Blumenthal, Courtney Applaud Navy Decision To Repair USS Miami
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-2) today applauded the U.S. Navy’s decision to move forward on repair of the USS MIAMI, a Groton-based attack submarine that was damaged in a fire May 23 while undergoing an overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine. During his meeting with Blumenthal and Courtney at SUBASE New London earlier today, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert shared that the repair project will be a joint effort between Electric Boat and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard personnel and facilities.
The Navy expects to award a contract to Electric Boat next month for the project’s detailed planning, and next spring to conduct the actual repair work in coordination with the Portsmouth team.
“Repairing the USS MIAMI will involve Electric Boat which is great news for Connecticut’s workforce and economy,” Senator Blumenthal said. “This decision recognizes the ten strong and vital years or more that this submarine has to contribute. Our meeting was tremendously positive and upbeat. There is encouraging news about building two subs a year - including 2014, avoiding BRAC - keeping the SUBASE fully in operation, and sustaining and enhancing the nation’s undersea warfare capability so vital to our strategic military security. At this location, we have the world’s best shipbuilder, the major homeport to the most advanced attack submarines in the world, and the state-of-the-art campus of the premier Submarine School – all making for a compelling synergy and a pillar of our national power. I am encouraged by Admiral Greenert’s appreciation of this powerful synergy and his unstinting support for the submarine program.”
“Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked closely with the Navy and Electric Boat to match EB’s talented workforce with the maintenance and repair needs of Navy shipyards across the country,” said Congressman Courtney. “This work has been an essential means of stabilizing the workforce as we built toward two-subs-a-year production. With an unparalleled ability to produce submarines ahead of schedule and under budget and an unmatched ability to conduct top-notch repairs, the men and women of Electric Boat have earned the trust of the Navy. Getting the MIAMI back into service is a top priority for our Navy, and their decision to move forward with support from Electric Boat is yet another indication of that excellent relationship.”