The work marked Portsmouth’s first Chief of Naval Operations availability on a submarine from the third Virginia-class production block. Shipyard personnel and the boat’s crew integrated new maritime technologies while completing several technical modifications for the first time.
The project also moved through its testing program, including the most demanding phase, at what the Navy described as a historically rapid pace. The experience is expected to inform future Portsmouth maintenance projects involving Block III Virginia-class submarines.
“Executing this complex work package on our first Block III submarine was a demanding task, but this team met every challenge head-on with tenacity and selflessness,” said Capt. Jesse Nice, shipyard commander. “Their cohesion, expertise, and indomitable will blazed the trail for future Virginia-class success stories and returned a fully modernized North Dakota back to the fleet, ready for the fight.”
The Navy said the upgrades were completed to the standards required for modern deployments and would provide an immediate operational benefit. “The state-of-the-art technological capabilities integrated during this availability translate directly into immediate operational capability and credible combat power, strengthening the readiness and resilience of the submarine force and helping our Navy maintain its global edge,” said Capt. Mike Poplawski, commodore of Submarine Squadron TWO.
“To have been a part of such a high performing and very capable Ship’s Force and project team combination has been a great experience,” said Andrew Stark, North Dakota project superintendent. “Everyone involved was bought in, stayed the course and executed the fastest, most aggressive end game in recent history on a major availability at PNSY.”
The availability required months of coordination between North Dakota’s crew and Portsmouth’s civilian workforce. The shipyard maintains, repairs and modernizes U.S. attack submarines to return them to operational service.
