The Navy has awarded HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding a $78 million contract modification to improve quality of life for sailors working on aircraft carriers undergoing mid-life refueling overhauls. This contract includes building a facility called the “Carrier Refueling Overhaul Workcenter” at Newport News.
The new building will provide 80,000 square feet of space near the ship, including offices for sailors and shipbuilders, a fitness center, counseling offices, and other facilities. This initiative follows the recent announcement of a new parking garage with over 2,000 spaces to address parking issues at Newport News.
According to a Defense Department announcement, the work is expected to be completed by June 2026. This project aims to enhance the quality of life for Navy sailors and shipyard workers at Newport News Shipbuilding.
This contract modification comes after delays in the overhaul of the John C. Stennis (CVN-74), which will take about 14 months longer than expected due to issues with the ship’s propulsion systems and workforce shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous overhaul of the USS George Washington (CVN-73) faced similar challenges and took nearly six years, during which sailors experienced tough living conditions.
Rear Adm. Casey Moton, program executive officer for carriers, stated that the Navy has implemented several changes to improve sailors’ quality of life during the overhaul of the Stennis, including new habitability standards for ships before sailors move back aboard.