GD-NASSCO Keeps LHA-LHD Pacific Fleet Maintenance Contract

USS Essex… and rowboat(click to view full) General Dynamics NASSCO, the only major US ship construction and repair yard on the West Coast, recently received a 7-year extension of its responsibility for the maintenance and emergent repair of San Diego-based LHA and LHD class amphibious assault ships. NASSCO was first awarded a similar 7-year contract in December 1997, and received a 2-year extension in October 2002. The contract includes additional options to be exercised by the U.S. Navy through fiscal year 2013, which could bump its value to approximately $400 million. Under the new contract, NASSCO will perform 12 scheduled maintenance availabilities aboard USS Tarawa [LHA 1], USS Peleliu [LHA 5], USS Essex [LHD 2], USS Boxer [LHD 4], USS Bonhomme Richard [LHD 6]; and Makin Island [LHD 8] as well once it’s commissioned in 2008. These are minor maintenance, repair, and upgrade dockings that do not last very long. The initial award under the contract is $63,000 for the pre-planning work leading to the scheduled maintenance availability of USS Boxer [LHD] in June 2007. GD release. Most other nations would call these 40,000t+ ships aircraft carriers given their ability to carry a Harrier (or F-35B) squadron plus a helicopter […]