Page 52: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2015)

SHIPBUILDING

BAE Systems Investing in San Diego

A discussion with Bob Koerber, General Manager, BAE Systems Ship Repair, San Diego, CA

What’s new here in San Diego? severe limitations on the maintenance capabil-

Bob Koerber, general manager of BAE Sys- A lot of good things happening in the ity within the port. With the 19 additional ships tems Ship Repair in San Diego, served on yard. This is a very exciting time to be with this coming out here, we did an analysis and ran company. We’re putting more upgrades in this the models and decided to make this major in- active duty as a surface warfare of? cer from facility now than I’ve seen in the last 27 years. vestment for the facility in order to support the 1981 to 1987, then continued to serve as a

We’ve just dedicated (signi? cant investment) a Navy. The contract for the new dry dock has

Navy Reservist, retiring as a captain in 2007. brand new—Pier 4—where we can berth two been signed and the build has commenced. We more ships. The other big investment is a new expect it will be fully operational by the end of

His last reserve assignment was as the Deputy dry dock. The current dry dock that we have, 2016. In conjunction with the new dry dock,

Commander of Naval Special Warfare Com- the “Pride of San Diego,” has a 26,000 ton lift we’re going through the entire facility accom- capacity. The new one we’re having built is plishing upgrades, including; new of? ces, re- mand. As a SWO he served aboard USS Hull 55,000 ton—that’s twice the lift capacity. strooms, yard services, and increased machine (DD 945?) and USS Brooke (FFG 1). He has

So what does that mean for the port? Cur- and electrical capability.

rently there are two dry docks – NASSCO has These investments will enable BAE Systems been employed by the San Diego yard for 27 one called the Builder; we have the Pride of San to do more work within the port and will enable years.

Diego. With roughly 60 ships home ported in ? eet maintenance to remain within the port thus

San Diego today, and only two docks, there are bene? ting the city and the surrounding commu-

By Edward Lundquist 52 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • MAY 2015

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