US Navy advances plan for new aircraft carrier dock at Puget Sound

The U.S. Navy is proceeding with plans to build a new multi-mission dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, to address a critical lack of West Coast facilities capable of servicing large aircraft carriers. A Sources Sought notice was published for a multi-award construction contract worth up to $30 billion over five years plus three one-year options. The dock, part of the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, will accommodate both Ford-class and Nimitz-class carriers, as well as other surface and subsurface vessels. Currently, only Dry Dock 6 at Puget Sound can handle Nimitz-class carriers, but it lacks seismic resiliency and cannot fully service Ford-class carriers. The project includes demolition of existing Dry Dock 3, dredging, and construction of new infrastructure such as substations, tunnels, and crane rails. The first task order is expected to focus on dredging and pier work.