Portsmouth Naval Shipyard News

As a rudderless U.S. Navy debates maritime strategy, fleet futures and platform performance, America’s naval shipbuilding industry can look forward to another year of relative stasis.Barring a major geopolitical incident or unexpected maritime provocation, government shipbuilding isn’t going to change course. With Admiral Michael Gilday approaching the final “lame duck” year of his four-year term as Chief of Naval Operations and the 2024 election season looming, the prospect for major changes in the Navy’s demand signal seems limited.Aside from the U.S.

Louisiana shipbuilder Bollinger Shipyards has been awarded a contract to build the multi-mission dry dock caissons at the U.S. Navy's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Maine, the U.S. Department of Defense said on Monday.Under the $33,704,757 firm-fixed-price contract, Bollinger will provide two graving dock caissons at PNSY for Dry Dock #1N and Dry Dock #1W. Caisson construction includes steel fabrication, installation of mechanical and electrical systems, and a full testing…

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) awarded a $1.7-billion construction project, an effort toexpand and reconfigure a dry dock complex at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery, Maine, to increase the shipyard's capacity to maintain, modernize, and repair the Navy's attack submarines and return them to the fleet on time.The seven-year project, part of the Navy's comprehensive Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), will construct an addition to Dry Dock 1 within the existing flood basin area…

Captain Dianna Wolfson took the helm Friday as the 110th commander of Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) and first female leader in its 253-year history.Wolfson also holds the distinction of becoming the first female commander of any of the nation’s four public shipyards when she assumed command in June 2019 of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF).This marks her third NNSY tour, with previous assignments as Operations Officer and Project Superintendent for the USS Newport News (SSN 750) Engineered Overhaul.NNSY…

Built by Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Wash., the first of the U.S. Navy's new fleet of six YT 808-class tugs was delivered in October after completing the last construction phase. Measuring 90 feet long and 38 feet 3 inches wide, the YT 808 vessel is powered by twin Cat 3512E marine engines, each rated at 1,810 horsepower. The engines drive two Schottel SRP 340 fixed-pitch z-drive thrusters providing a top speed of 12.5 knots and an expected bollard pull of 40 metric tons.The new series of Robert Allan Ltd.-designed tugs are the Navy's first vessels built to meet the U.S.

Maritime navigational safety near two U.S. Navy installations in Kings Bay, Ga., and Portsmouth, N.H. has been improved thanks to new Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems, also known as PORTS, installed by NOAA and the U.S. Navy. They are the first new PORTS in two years, and the 34th and 35th in the nationwide network.The system near Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, the East Coast home to America’s Ohio-class submarines, is an integrated series of sensors which will provide critical real-time information on oceanographic and meteorological conditions.

The U.S. Navy is mobilizing 1,629 Reservists to support aircraft carrier and submarine maintenance at its four public shipyards starting in July. This mobilization will help reduce the maintenance backlog that has developed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.In March, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) authorized weather and safety leave for shipyard personnel who fell under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) "high risk" category for extreme complications tied to the COVID-19 virus.

Cianbro Corp., Pittsfield, Maine, is awarded a $157,949,610 firm-fixed-price contract for construction of a super flood basin and extending portal crane rails for Dry Dock #1 located at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS).  Work will be performed in Kittery, Maine, and is expected to be completed by March 2022.  Fiscal 2019 military construction, (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $157,949,610 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with one proposal received.  The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N40085-20-C-8500).

Oceaneering International Inc., Chesapeake, Virginia (N64498-19-D-0001); Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia (N64498-19-D-0002); and General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut (N64498-19-D-0003), are being awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity multiple award contracts with firm-fixed-priced ordering provisions for Submarine Safety (SUBSAFE) and Level I engineering and technical services in the amounts of $827,674,072; $874,341,811; and $1,110,350,671, respectively. This requirement is for management and technical services for the support installation, troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance of main and auxiliary weapons…

The U.S. Navy’s next Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), Tulsa (LCS 16), has moved a step closer to deliver with the completion of acceptance trials on March 8. An industry team led by shipbuilder Austal USA performed comprehensive tests while LCS 16 was underway in the Gulf of Mexico in order to demonstrate to the Navy the successful operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment. LCS 16 will be the eighth Independence-variant LCS built by Austal for the U.S. Navy and the second delivered so far in 2018.

After a two-year restoration at historic Dry Dock 1 at Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston National Historical Park, America's oldest commissioned warship, USS Constitution was refloated July 23. Since entering dry dock on May 18, 2015, ship restorers from the Naval History and Heritage Command Detachment Boston, and teams of Constitution Sailors have worked tirelessly side-by-side to bring Old Ironsides back to her glory. Captain Robert S. Gerosa, Jr., commanding officer of Constitution, said he was proud of the hard work and dedication of his Sailors during the restoration. "The significance of the water coming in the dry dock is the start of the evolution," said Gerosa. "It's the start of getting Constitution back in the water.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard delivered USS Providence (SSN 719) back to the Fleet 23 days ahead of schedule and on budget April 7. USS Providence arrived at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard December 4, 2015, for a Pre-Inactivation Restricted Availability (PIRA). The project team and ship's crew worked seamlessly throughout the maintenance availability to meet the Naval Sea Systems Command's mission priority of the on-time delivery of ships and submarines. "As a team, the shipyard with the captain and crew of Providence, focused on the positive plan forward," said project superintendent, Mark Ayotte.

The Virginia-class  nuclear-powered attack submarine USS New Hampshire has arrived at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) for maintenance work, AP reported. It is the fifth Virginia-class submarine and the third U.S. Navy ship to be named in honor of the state of New Hampshire. USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) will complete scheduled maintenance work and several system upgrades while in the Shipyard. New Hampshire is the first Virginia-class major maintenance availability for the shipyard since completing the inaugural availability on USS Virginia (SSN 774) in 2012. It is designed to excel in anti-submarine, anti-ship and strike warfare; special operations; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The submarine has a crew of 15 officers and 117 enlisted personnel.

1822 - USS Grampus investigates and pursues a brig flying Spanish colors. When called upon to surrender, the privateer brig Palmyra from Puerto Rico fires cannon and musket fire. USS Grampus fires back on Palmyras broadsides reducing Palmyras rigging to a complete wreck, killing one and wounding six. The brig surrenders with a crew of 88, one long 18-pounder gun and eight 18-pound carronades. Her officers acknowledge they had robbed the American schooner USS Coquette. 1863 - During the Civil War…

1846 - During the Mexican-American War, a detachment of Marines and Sailors, led by Arm. Col. John C. Fremont from the sloop USS Cyane, commanded by Cmdr. Samuel F. DuPont, lands and takes possession of San Diego and raises the U.S. flag. 1898 - During the Spanish-American War, the gunboat, USS Helena, commanded by Cmdr. William T. Swinburne, captures the Spanish steamer Manati at Cienfuegos, Cuba. 1920 - USS St. Louis (CA 20) is ordered to Turkish waters to protect American nationals and citizens during the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922).

One of the world's oldest commissioned warships has entered dry dock for a planned multiyear restoration, the U.S. Navy reports. On May 19, USS Constitution eased into Dry Dock 1 at Charlestown Navy Yard Boston National Historical Park with the help and coordination of a large team of stakeholders including the ship's crew, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Naval History and Heritage Command's Maintenance Detachment Boston, USS Constitution Museum and the National Park Service. "We couldn't…

USS Constitution, ‘Old Ironsides’, will enter dry dock May 18 for a nearly three year restoration with most of the work being done below the waterline and the bow area. The timeline of events leading up to the ship’s dry docking can be found below. The ship will be moved into position on May 15, the dry dock flooded on May 17 then Constitution will enter the dry dock on May 18 at 10:20 p.m. Why is this important? USS Constitution is the only survivor of the U.S. Navy’s original six frigates. Her mission was to keep the sea lanes open for commerce, fight pirates, land Marines in trouble spots (…to the shores of Tripoli…), and prevent the slave trade. The U.S. Navy carries out similar missions today.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) was recently declared winner of two fiscal year 2014 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Environmental Awards, one for Environmental Restoration-Installation and one for Cultural Resources Management-Small Installation. The SECNAV Environmental Awards recognize Navy and Marine Corps individuals, teams, ships, and installations for exceptional environmental stewardship. The award submittals in each of the categories are judged on five key criteria: program management, orientation to mission, stakeholder interaction, transferability, and technical merit. "The environmental restoration program has been ongoing for a number of years now, starting with our initial assessment in 1983 to identify potential cleanup sites," said Cmdr.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has completed the restoration of the motor generator set for the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740) on February 23 – three days ahead of schedule, the U.S. Navy reported. PNSY was already restoring a motor generator set for Rhode Island, a process that typically takes 12 to 18 months, when Trident Refit Facility (TRF) Kings Bay informed the shipyard they wanted to replace the motor generator set during the upcoming availability, 10 months earlier than the regularly scheduled overhaul.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) delivered USS Springfield (SSN 761) back to the fleet on Sept. ahead of schedule and under budget. PNSY conducted Springfield's docking continuous maintenance availability off-yard at Sub Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. Although PNSY routinely performs work outside the Kittery, Maine shipyard, off-yard availabilities are unique and an all-inclusive team mentality from planning to execution is especially important. The Springfield Project Team and Ship's Force, with support from PNSY and the Regional Support Group in Groton, led the submarine's availability. Project Superintendent Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Luteran attributed the successful maintenance availability to teamwork and adhering to project management fundamentals.

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) released a new fire safety and prevention manual for all ship repair and construction activities, Feb. The manual integrates existing shipboard fire safety requirements with lessons learned from the major fire that occurred on board USS Miami (SSN 755) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 2012. It was developed and reviewed by industrial and fire safety experts across the Navy and provides a single source requirements document to improve shipboard fire safety during industrial work. It applies to all public and private ship construction and repair activities, and to all ship availabilities. "Navy leadership recognized a clear need to raise our standards and capabilities…

While ongoing operations involving ships at sea and forward-deployed forces are moving along as scheduled, the government shutdown is reverberating throughout the Navy, especially at its shipyards. More than 75,000 Navy civilian employees will be furloughed, according to Military.com. Citing a U.S. Naval Institute report, Military.com says that [unpaid] furloughs are slated to occur at all four of the Navy’s public shipyards, including: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash.…

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) has delivered Los Angeles-class attack submarine 'USS Pittsburgh' (SSN 720) on-time and under budget after drydock overhaul. PNSY conducted the Pittsburgh pre-inactivation restricted availability (PIRA) off-yard at Sub Base New London in Groton, Conn. beginning Sept. 5, 2012. Although PNSY routinely performs work off-yard, this was the first major Chief of Naval Operations availability of more than 100,000 man-days which PNSY executed outside of Kittery, Maine.