U.S. Navy To Get New 46,000-Sq-Ft Submarine Repair Centre In Cleveland

The United States has chosen the city of Cleveland, Ohio, to set up a new 46,000-square-foot centre to repair and maintain components used in US Navy submarines.

US President Donald Trump made the announcement during a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on October 12. The centre aims to increase the availability of submarine components and improve fleet readiness amid delays in submarine maintenance and repairs.

White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia confirmed the selection at a briefing on Tuesday, saying the Department of War would build the facility. The project’s budget, construction schedule and expected number of jobs have not yet been announced.

According to Trump, the facility will be 46,000 square feet and will manufacture, repair and maintain crucial components for all new and existing submarines. He thanked Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted for helping secure the project for the state.

The repair center was part of a presidential memorandum issued by President Trump on August 13 to rebuild the US Navy and develop the shipbuilding industry of the country.

The fifth section of the memorandum requires the Secretary of War to submit a plan within 90 days regarding the plan to establish a component repair center. The facility is supposed to accept new components and refurbish old components necessary for the submarine repair industrial base. The deadline for submitting the plan is November 11.

The memorandum requires the identification of geographically central locations of the project near roads, railway and river transportation systems. It also requires resources to maintain at least one complete set of spare equipment for each of five submarine classes: Los Angeles, Virginia, Seawolf, Ohio and Columbia.

The new center in Cleveland will specialise in submarine parts rather than carrying out full-scale submarine overhauls. It will be established as a hub for repairs, rebuilding and management of parts in the fleet.

The efficiency of the center will depend on its work with existing Navy shipyards, suppliers and maintenance program.

Husted welcomed the decision, saying Northeast Ohio had the skilled workforce, infrastructure and strategic location needed to support the Navy’s requirements.

The facility will help to strengthen national security, military readiness and provide employment in Cleveland.

Prior to the announcement, Husted sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao urging the administration to choose Northeast Ohio for the project.

Trump announced the selection during a campaign rally at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown, where he described US submarines as the best in the world and praised Husted for securing the facility.

The project promises new job opportunities for the region; however, the number of potential jobs created by the project has not been revealed.

The submarine component repair centre is part of an effort to expand the infrastructure available to maintain the US Navy’s fleet.

The August 13 presidential memorandum also called for a plan to establish a fifth public Navy yard, separate from the proposed component repair centre.

While the new centre would handle submarine parts, the initiative is intended to address maintenance and repair challenges affecting the Navy’s submarine fleet.

Submarines assist in US military deterrence and gathering of intelligence among other undersea missions. Delays in maintenance and the repair of components have put pressure on the Navy’s ability to keep its fleet ready for deployment.

References: interestingengineering, cleveland19