Navy suspends work at 4 dry docks over earthquake concerns

WASHINGTON — The US Navy said today it is suspending submarine repair work at four dry docks in Washington state due to concerns about the facilities’ ability to withstand seismic activities.

The suspension of work applies to dry docks four, five and six at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., and one at the Trident Refit Facility Bangor.

While officials say there is “no immediate risk” to the facilities, the Navy will have a team of more than 100 experts evaluate the dry docks for what measures are required long-term to keep its personnel and equipment safe, Defense News reported.

Driving the concerns are the results of a recent planned “seismic study,” which was done as part of the service’s long-term plan to revamp the four public shipyards, that “identified potential issues associated with the remote possibility of a large-scale earthquake occurring simultaneously with a submarine maintenance availability,” according to the statement.

“With this new information, the Navy is taking additional measures to further ensure the safety of the shipyard workforce, sailors, the local public, the environment, and the submarines,” the statement continues.

Officials said that the pause will not result in any reduction of the 14,000 personnel working in the yards, USNI News reported.

While the dry docks may not be in imminent danger, it’s also unclear how long they’ll be out of commission. And the shutdown comes at a time when the Navy has been working to reduce its submarine maintenance backlog. It’s an issue Capitol Hill as well as independent government auditors have repeatedly criticized Navy brass for failing to overcome. In turn, Navy leadership have also lashed out at industry for not stepping up to the plate when called upon.

Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker, the program executive officer for attack submarines, said on average that 30 percent of the maintenance work done on any given Navy submarine is unplanned work.

“The reason we’re not there is we’re not following our own requirements,” Rucker said during the annual Naval Submarine League symposium, adding the Navy’s goal is to be at 10 percent by 2026. “We’re not sticking to our milestones in the planning process. We’re not being real with how we modernize them.”

Naval Sea Systems Command, or NAVSEA, is the service’s primary agency responsible for ship maintenance and new ship construction.

“Our public shipyards are essential to our national defense,” said Vice Adm. Bill Galinis, NAVSEA’s chief. “We will begin implementing these mitigations immediately and safely return our dry docks to full capacity as soon as possible.”

The Navy statement adds that “the work packages for each affected availability are being evaluated and structured to continue work pier side when possible.”