New dry docks for the Virginia class

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery, Maine, is receiving two new dry docks as part of its modernisation. The existing dock, which dates back to the Second World War, is no longer suitable for the tasks of repairing the Virginia-class are no longer sufficient. Designed for conventional submarines of the same size, the nuclear-powered and significantly larger boats can no longer be maintained efficiently.
In total, the Ministry of Defence is investing more than 1.7 billion dollars in the construction, which is scheduled for completion in June 2028. Until now, submarines have only been able to enter and leave the current dry dock number 1 on a few days each month due to the tides. A situation that the Navy no longer wanted to accept. As part of the modernisation and expansion, a so-called Super Flood Basin will therefore be created in front of the three docks. In this 1.4 hectare basin, the water level can be artificially raised to allow the 115 metre long and 10 metre wide submarines of the Virginia-class to enable travelling 365 days a year.

USS Santa Fe in Kittery

Text: mb; Photos: US Navy, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard