Nuclear-attack sub docks at Kittery shipyard for two-year overhaul
Photo / U.S. Navy, Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Hoskins
The USS Virginia, shown in this Navy photo taken at Groton, Conn., arrived Wednesday at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery to begin a two-year overhaul.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery is beginning work on a scheduled two-year overhaul of the USS Virginia, a 377-foot, first-of-its-class, nuclear-powered Navy attack submarine.
The Virginia and its 132-member crew berthed at the yard Wednesday afternoon, the Portsmouth Herald reported.
The submarine, which specializes in anti-ship and anti-sub warfare and carries Tomahawk cruise missiles, is due for maintenance and system upgrades. The work is expected to be complete by the late fall of 2020, according to the Herald.
Built at a cost of $3.1 billion and commissioned in 2004, it last received an overhaul at Portsmouth in 2012.
The Virginia returned to U.S. waters in February after a 32,000-mile deployment that included port calls in Norway, Scotland and Spain.
“We’re excited to have Virginia back at Portsmouth to conduct her second major maintenance availability,” shipyard commander Capt. David Hunt told the newspaper. “I have set the expectation with our dedicated workforce to deliver Virginia back to the fleet with Portsmouth-quality.”
The shipyard may be getting a tune-up of its own soon, thanks to a pending federal appropriations bill that would fund over $162 million in improvements to a dry dock, crane system and warehouse. The legislation is awaiting President Trump’s signature.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is also looking to staff up for its anticipated workload, and plans to add 700 employees next year to its workforce of 6,450.
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