BAE Systems has earmarked a total of approximately USD 100 million to purchase a new dry dock and a range of infrastructure improvements so as to significantly expand dry-docking capabilities at its San Diego shipyard.
The company made the announcement during a ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating a new pier at the shipyard along the San Diego waterfront.
“The new pier and dry dock will complement and expand the shipyard’s existing capacity in this homeport and provide greater capabilities to our customers. Our continuing investment in the region further demonstrates our commitment to San Diego and recognizes the important role it plays in our strategy,” Erwin Bieber, president of BAE Systems’ Platforms & Services sector commented.
The new pier and dry dock will support current and future Navy surface ship repair, maintenance, and modernization, along with other ships and vessels under contract, including those for Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Maritime Administration, according to BAE Systems.
The new dry dock will measure 950-feet long and 205-feet wide, with a design lifting capacity of 55,000 tons.
The shipbuilder said that when operational in early 2017, the dry dock will be the company’s largest dry dock facility in the United States and will employ several environmental design features, including LED lighting, electric cranes, air-cooled emergency generators, a zero discharge closed-loop salt water system, and storm water recovery systems.