JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — BAE Systems’ Jacksonville shipyard and Fincantieri Marine Systems North America in Virginia received a $1.3 billion contract from the Navy for ship maintenance.
Another $965 million contract will be awarded to several other ship repair companies in the Jacksonville area.
The money is specifically to maintain Littoral Combat Ships, based in Mayport.
“The purpose of these sustainment execution contract efforts is to continue and expand the contractor base of shipyards capable of performing the required maintenance, repair, and modernization of LCS Class Ships,” Alan Baribeau, a spokesperson for Naval Sea Systems Command, told Action News Jax in a statement.
The contracts will be awarded over five years.
Mayor Lenny Curry tweeted about the announcement. He said, “Jacksonville is proud to have such a vital role in our nation’s national security posture. This decision to award a Littoral Combat Ship maintenance contract to our local BAE Systems shipyard further strengthens our deep relationship to the US Navy.”
Jacksonville is proud to have such a vital role in our nation’s national security posture. This decision to award a Littoral Combat Ship maintenance contract to our local @BAESystemsInc shipyard further strengthens our deep relationship to the @USNavy https://t.co/npg8JKjfxs
— Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) August 16, 2021
Rod Sullivan, a Jacksonville maritime expert, said the contract would boost the local economy.
“Since the major shipyards left Jacksonville, there have been a lot of people who work in those industries who haven’t found jobs again that are as high paying.”
The first Littoral Combat Ships came to Mayport in 2018 and offered a multifunctional ship to the Navy at a lower price.
LCS will require drydocking at BAE Systems along with preventive maintenance.
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