The Navy said the investment is intended to help modernise shipyard facilities originally built in the 19th and 20th centuries so they can continue to maintain and repair ships and submarines on schedule. Capt. Warren LeBeau, programme manager for SIOP, said, “To create the public shipyards that our nation needs requires investments to improve their capacity and capability,” adding, “This contract directly supports the vital roles that Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard have in terms of our national defence by executing maintenance and modernization on submarines and aircraft carriers to provide combat-ready ships to the fleet.”
SIOP is a joint effort between Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command to recapitalise and modernise the Navy’s four public shipyards. The programme includes work to repair and upgrade dry docks, restore and reorganise shipyard facilities and replace deteriorating equipment.
Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, commander of NAVFAC Pacific, said the programme will strengthen the Navy’s ability to meet strategic demands. “SIOP will provide critical infrastructure investments into the shipyards that enable our Navy’s lethality and ability to operate forward in the era of strategic competition,” he said. “The award of this contract provides NAVFAC with the capacity and capability to plan and execute critical NAVSEA and CNIC projects at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to meet urgent fleet readiness needs.”
