Dynamics Nassco News

Frederick Joseph Harris of Mystic CT, passed peacefully at 5:47PM on 10/24/2025, with his family by his side. “Fred” was born on 11/25/1944 at Framingham Union Hospital to Frederick Everett and MaryRosa Camilla Harris.Fred was a proud patriot who loved his country. Fred received his bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy (with Honors) in 1967. Upon graduation, Fred was commissioned in the U.S. Naval Reserve with the obligation of sailing in the U.S. Merchant Marine. In the Merchant Marine, Fred sailed on various U.S.

General Dynamics NASSCO has taken delivery of a new dry dock at its Long Beach location, after achieving over 40 years of operation from its existing floating dry dock.“This is more than an arrival. This is our commitment to the future of ship repair, strengthening our ability to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” said the company.The 17,300-tonne dry dock measures over 253 metres in length, 54 metres in width, and 21 metres in height.Kuehne+Nagel was entrusted with its transport from a construction yard in Turkey on the BOKA Vanguard…

Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) has welcomed Gordon Fream as a naval architect to its naval architecture and marine engineering firm. Gordon holds a bachelor’s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan.Before joining BHGI, Gordon interned at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego, where he supported key projects for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. Gordon also interned at the NSWC Carderock Division Combatant Craft Detachment in Norfolk…

The military and Coast Guard budgets are established that will benefit the U.S. ship building and repair sector, but what will stimulate the commercial yards?This author has been scratching his head of late, after a thrilling dive into July’s U.S. Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has asked several colleagues where the funding for support commercial shipbuilding can be found? To answer that, we need to look elsewhere and to future programs.Setting the SceneMany column inches have been dedicated to the decline U.S. shipbuilding, whether signaled by the relatively small presence of a U.S.

General Dynamics NASSCO has christened and launched Hull 576, the future USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), the sixth ship for the U.S. Navy’s John Lewis-class fleet oiler program.T-AO 210 is named in honor of Sojourner Truth, a nineteenth century civil rights activist from New York. In a time-honored Navy tradition, ship sponsor Barbara Allen, a sixth-generation descendant of the ship's namesake, christenrf the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow.John Lewis…

Norwegian supplier of boat-handling systems Vestdavit has demonstrated the operational efficiency of its davits during sea trials of the equipment on U.S. Navy fleet refueling vessels being built by General Dynamics NASSCO.The pair of high-specification PLRH-5000 rescue boat davits were subject to rigorous operational testing in the recent trials performed with USNS Robert F. Kennedy, or T-AO 208, that is the fourth and latest so-called T-AO oiler to be delivered in the series…

The bipartisan, bicameral bill will fuel U.S. economy, strengthen national security by responding to China’s threat over the oceans. Currently, the number of U.S.-flagged vessels in international commerce is 80; China has 5,500.Today, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-8), and Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS-1) introduced the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security (SHIPS) for America Act, comprehensive legislation to revitalize the United States shipbuilding and commercial maritime industries. After decades of neglect, the United States has a weakened shipbuilding capacity, a declining commercial shipping fleet that is dwarfed by China, and a diminished ability to supply the U.S. military during wartime.

The U.S. Department of Labor recovered more than $1.4 million for 36 Mexican engineers employed in San Diego by a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corp., one of the world’s largest defense contractors, that paid them in Mexican pesos below the federal minimum wage rate in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.The department’s Wage and Hour Division found National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. one of three shipyards in the Marine Systems group of General Dynamics that designs and builds auxiliary and support ships for the U.S.

San Diego shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO on Saturday christened and launched the USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209), the fifth ship in the fleet oiler program for the U.S. Navy.Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), Carlos Del Toro served as the principal speaker at the ceremony, with additional remarks from NASSCO president, Dave Carver, and other Navy representatives. Following remarks, co-sponsors Alicia L. Aadnesen and Deborah D. Simmons christened the ship with the traditional champagne bottle break alongside the hull.“What we christen today is not just a ship…

San Diego shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO delivered the future USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7) to the U.S. Navy, on September 12.The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base ship is named for Private First Class Robert Ernest Simanek, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for shielding fellow Marines from a grenade at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the Korean War. The Medal of Honor was presented to him by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a White House ceremony in 1953.“From christening in May 2024 to delivery…

The U.S. Navy on Friday announced it has placed a $6.75 billion order with San Diego shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO for up to eight John Lewis Class (TAO-205) Fleet Replenishment Oilers. The ships are scheduled for delivery through January 2035.The Navy, which has been looking for ways to reduce costs and increase efficiency across its shipbuilding and repair programs, said it expects the "block buy" approach will unlock savings of $491 million compared to the total anticipated…

Hanwha Ocean on Wednesday announced it has secured a contract that makes it the first Korean shipbuilder to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the U.S. Navy.The 40,000-ton U.S. Navy dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra is undergoing maintenance and inspection at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard, with additional onshore maintenance work being conducted using the shipyard’s floating facilities.The MRO contract requires a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) certification, which Hanwha Ocean earned in July 2024. The certification, granted by the U.S.

The keel for the future USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), a John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, was authenticated at General Dynamics NASSCO, June 21.The ship is named for human rights pioneer Sojourner Truth, an abolitionist and women’s rights activist.The ship sponsor is Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights trailblazer and Founder and President Emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund.“The future USNS Sojourner Truth will aid in expanding refueling capability at sea,” said John Lighthammer, program manager, Auxiliary and Special Mission Ships, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.

San Diego shipbuilder General Dynamics NASSCO recently christened USNS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), the fifth ship for the U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) program.The ESB ship class is a highly flexible platform designed to support multiple maritime-based missions. ESB ships are mobile sea-based assets and are a part of the critical access infrastructure that supports the deployment of forces, equipment, supplies, and warfighting capability. These 784-foot ships are configured with a 52…

The Austal USA Board of Directors has elected Michelle Kruger as Austal USA President. She has been serving as interim president since August 2023.Kruger joined Austal USA in 2022 as the vice president of global services and support. In that role she led Austal USA’s ship repair and warranty efforts including the development of business strategy and strategic alliances. She also oversaw the stand up of Austal USA’s San Diego repair yard including the delivery of a purpose-built 9000-tonne capacity dry dock.

Davits supplied by Vestdavit will be used for the launch and recovery of fast craft to support refuelling operations at sea for the US naval fleet after the company was awarded a major contract for six vessels being built by General Dynamics NASSCO in the US.The contract covers delivery of 12 high-specification PLRH-5000 davits to be installed on the John Lewis-class of T-AO oilers ordered by the US Navy at the shipbuilder’s San Diego shipyard, with two on each ship from T-AO…

Birdon, a defense contractor specializing in maritime solutions, announced it has expanded its U.S. Board of Outside Directors through the recent election of two members with extensive backgrounds with U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard shipbuilding and ship repair. Kevin Mooney and Ronald Rábago, (Rear Admiral, USCG-Ret.) have agreed to serve as Chairperson and Member, respectively.“Kevin and Ron will provide invaluable insight and guidance to our management team as Birdon continues to grow and deliver major programs to its customers,” said Birdon CEO and owner, Jamie Bruce.

Kinder Morgan's shipping arm, American Petroleum Tankers, has been awarded a $28,548,000 charter contract option for one of its MR tankers, Empire State.The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) announced the deal earlier this week, stating the option is the third of the current contract, which includes a 12-month base period with three 12-month options and one 11-month option. If all options are exercised, work would run through July 23, 2025, and the cumulative value the deal would be $136,560,500. The 600-foot Empire State is being used in support of the U.S.

The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance and repair industry, announced its new Board of Directors leadership and the incoming chairs of the SCA Partners Committee. The announcements kicked off the Association’s Annual Meeting on May 17 in Washington, D.C.Brad Moyer, Vice President of BAE Systems Ship Repair, is ascending from his Vice Chairman post to  Chairman of the Board, assuming the position from Ben Bordelon…

U.S. shipping company Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) on Thursday announced it has reached an agreement with BP Oil Shipping Company to purchase the Jones Act compliant crude oil tanker Alaskan Frontier.Built by General Dynamics NASSCO in 2004, the 1.3-million-barrel capacity tanker is a sister to three other Alaskan Class vessels operated by OSG’s wholly owned subsidiary, Alaskan Tanker Company. It was part of Alaska Tanker Company's active fleet  until 2019 when the vessel was placed in cold lay-up in Labuan, Malaysia.OSG said it expects the transaction will be completed in early November. Afterward, the company intends to reactivate the tanker…

General Dynamics NASSCO, a subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) won a contract by the U.S. Navy for the maintenance, modernization and repair of USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95). The contract for an initial $15.6 million includes options that, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value to $753.8 million.Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and San Diego, California. If all options are exercised, work will continue through November 2030.

The Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) completed its routine planned maintenance in Rijeka, Croatia Feb. 8, 2024 at Viktor Lenac Shipyard.Military Sealift Command, Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF) and Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) executed the ship’s planned Mid-Term Availability (MTA), a depot-level maintenance period, to maintain safety and mission-essential equipment and ensure the ship will reach its planned service life.Maintenance work during the MTA included Safety of Life At Sea equipment such as communication…

The Pentagon last Friday announced that nine companies have been awarded contracts for repair, maintenance and modernization of U.S. Navy’s non-nuclear surface ships homeported or visiting the Northwest United States.The total value of the multiple award contract is a combined $944 million. The scope of work is for continuous maintenance, emergent maintenance, and Chief of Naval Operations availabilities, which are short-term or less than 10-months in duration.The nine companies are East Coast Repair & Fabrication…