Shipyard dry dock bill passes Senate committee

PORTSMOUTH — A 2007 military construction and veterans spending bill was recently approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee and, if passed by the full Senate, would mean good news for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine.

Per request of Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, the bill allows $9.6 million for the construction of a new dry dock waterfront support facility at PNSY.

The new facility would replace the submarine port, which is over 60 years old and “in need of replacement,” said Snowe and Collins in a joint statement.