Posted by Skyler Frink
SAN DIEGO, CA. Oct 19, 2011. General Dynamics NASSCO, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), was awarded a $37 million contract by the U.S. Navy for the fitting-out availability of the San Antonio-class amphibious assault dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22). Work under this contract will be performed at NASSCO beginning in May 2012 and is expected to be completed by December 2014.
Specific efforts for the USS San Diego under this contract include program management, planning, engineering, design, scheduling, liaison, labor and procurement of incidental material. On board repair efforts will include piping, structural and machinery work. The contract award also includes options which, if exercised, would bring the total value of the contract to approximately $134 million.
Built in Pascagoula, MS., the 684-foot long ship completed builder’s sea trials off the Gulf Coast on October 1, 2011. The tests assessed the ship’s defensive, propulsion, communication and other auxiliary systems. The USS San Diego is designed to deliver a Marine battalion of 699 officers and enlisted men fully equipped for a variety of expeditionary warfare missions. The USS San Diego is the fourth Navy ship to share that name.
NASSCO is the prime contractor for all homeport repair work for San Diego-based amphibious assault (LHA/LHD) ships, dock landing ships (LSDs), amphibious transport ships (LPDs) and frigates (FFGs). In 2011 the shipyard conducted four dry-dockings, led eight major repair availabilities and participated in more than seven major availabilities. This work includes major overhauls and upgrades to the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), USS Rushmore (LSD 47), USS Harper’s Ferry (LSD 49), and USS Benfold (DDG 65).
