The Navy awarded HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding a $1.17 billion modification to start repairing the long-delated USS Boise (SSN-764)
Los Angeles-class attack submarine.
The contract, awarded on Feb. 23, is the latest step to finally perform maintenance on the Boise, which has become the prime example of submarine maintenance delay problems.
SSN-764 finished its last deployment in early 2015 and originally planned to undergo maintenance starting in fiscal year 2016 at the public Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
However, after years of delays waiting for an open spot at the public yard, in 2017 the Navy awarded HII a contract for the company to start planning for the depot maintenance (Defense Daily, Oct. 20, 2017).
The SSNs are the lowest priority of nuclear-powered vessels that have maintenance performed by the four public shipyards, because they are required to focus on aircraft carriers and nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs).
The delays have been so long that Boise lost its dive certification in 2017.
The Boise arrived at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in June 2018, when the work was first expected to last through 2021 (Defense Daily, June 22, 2018).
However, it was delayed yet again while at HII due to cost overruns and delays in the maintenance schedules of its fellow Los Angeles-class boat, the USS Helena (SSN-725). Helena’s spot in the drydock and maintenance schedule was then followed by work on the USS Columbus (SSN-762), which is expected to complete maintenance in 2025.
Boise is expected to follow Columbus in 2025.
In 2020, the Navy awarded HII a $352 million modification for more early production period work on the Boise (Defense Daily, Sept. 21, 2020).
The contract announcement said this latest award covers “completion of USS Boise (SSN 764) engineered overhaul.”
It includes options that, if exercised, would raise the value to $1.24 billion.
The DoD announcement now said it expects this maintenance work on SSN-764 to be finished by September 2029.