US Navy to suspend four dry docks from its Pacific shipyards.

According to information published by the US DoD on January 27, 2023, the Navy will temporarily suspend submarine docking in Dry Docks 4, 5, and 6 at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) and the dry dock at delta pier located at Trident Refit Facility (TRF) Bangor following a planned seismic study and expert analysis.
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Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility Dry dock 2. (Picture source: US DoD)

The recently conducted seismic assessment, executed as part of the Navy’s long-range Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), identified potential issues associated with the remote possibility of a large-scale earthquake occurring simultaneously with a submarine maintenance availability.

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.

This action does not affect the nation’s strategic deterrent capability or the ability of the fleet to continue its overall mission.

The Navy is working to minimize delays to ship schedules and fleet impacts. The work packages for each affected availability are being evaluated and structured to continue work pier side when possible. Aircraft carrier maintenance is not impacted by this decision.

A Naval Sea Systems Command-led team is working now to safely and efficiently return the docks to service with the additional upgrades in place.

About the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, officially Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres (0.7 km2) on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington in uninterrupted use since its establishment in 1891; it has also been known as Navy Yard Puget Sound, Bremerton Navy Yard, and the Bremerton Naval Complex.

It is bordered on the south by Sinclair Inlet, on the west by the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap, and on the north and east by the city of Bremerton, Washington.

It is the Pacific Northwest's largest naval shore facility and one of Washington state's largest industrial installations. PSNS & IMF provides the Navy with maintenance, modernization, and technical and logistics support, and employs 14,000 people.