US Navy Reports to Congress that Submarines are the Navy’s Most Survivable Strike Platforms and that the Submarine Industrial Base Must Be Expanded While Forecasting Growth in the Submarine Force Fleet

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine: USS California (SSN 781) departs for sea trials June 6 after completing a scheduled maintenance period at the shipyard. California was delivered back to the fleet June 15 the fastest availability of its kind since the Navy adjusted the Virginia-class maintenance cycle. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is committed to maximizing the material readiness of the fleet by safely delivering first time quality, on-budget, and on time.

USS George Washington (SSBN 598), the world’s first ballistic missile submarine, was launched 62 years ago today. On this anniversary it is appropriate to compare the 1960’s submarine industrial base, which produced George Washington, and the current submarine industrial base.

GAO Report 21-246, issued June 2, 2021, highlights the urgent need for the US Navy to both improve its planning process and to develop capabilities to complete the repair of battle-damaged ships.

When USS Toledo (SSN 769) arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard on January 21, 2021, to begin a planned 2-year engineered overhaul, expected to require approximately 3.5 million manhours of effort, its scheduled drydock was unavailable.

From 2015 to 2019, 38 of the 51 maintenance periods for aircraft carriers and submarines at the nation's four publicly-owned Naval shipyards were completed late.

Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG) has joined the Bartlett Maritime Corporation (BMC) Industry Team to support expanding the capacity and capability of the US Navy’s Naval Shipyard industrial enterprise.

CBO concludes that the existing Naval Shipyards will lack adequate capacity to complete planned ship maintenance in 25 of the next 30 years, with a persistent shortfall of more than 2,500 trade personnel all working consistent 20% overtime.