BAE Systems Shipyard Breaks Ground on New Pier in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, California — BAE Systems broke ground today on the construction of a new pier at its ship repair facility on the San Diego Bay. The pier, which will be complete in 2014, will increase the capacity of the company’s shipyard from five to seven ships. The project will permit the company to enhance its repair and modernization capabilities to serve the U.S. Navy, government agencies and commercial customers.

“This new pier will be a major step forward for our business and for the local economy as a whole,” said Bob Kilpatrick, vice president and general manager of BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair. “The construction will completely transform approximately 35 percent of our shipyard’s waterfront, so that we can accommodate and work on the newest Navy ships.”

The pier will measure approximately 600 feet in length and will include two berths. It will enable for pier-side repairs and modifications of large commercial and military ships, including the Navy’s CG-47 and DDG-51 classes of ships. The pier will also support the Navy’s new U.S. Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) that will come to the San Diego Bay for routine repairs.

The construction has been approved by the Port of San Diego and will proceed under applicable permits, rules and regulations issued by local, state and federal agencies. BAE Systems will invest approximately $15 million to complete the project.

BAE Systems Ship Repair, a business area of BAE Systems Support Solutions, is a leading non-nuclear ship repair, modernization and conversion company, focusing on dry dock and maintenance and modernization services for the Navy, other defense agencies and commercial customers. The company also specializes in the new construction of commercial vessels. In addition to San Diego, BAE Systems Ship Repair has major operations in Norfolk, Virginia; San Francisco, California; Honolulu, Hawaii; Jacksonville, Florida; and Mobile, Alabama.