BATH – Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer visited Bath Iron Works Friday morning, where he reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to building a larger fleet. 

While campaigning in Lisbon last year, President Donald Trump promised to build a 350 ship fleet, which he said would benefit BIW.

“We definitely need a larger Navy. Three hundred and fifty-five ships is the number of record, and if I’m not mistaken it’s either law or becoming law that we will have a 355-ship Navy. So that will be the marching orders,” said Spencer.

An amendment to the 2018 Defense Authorization bill required the Navy to maintain a 355-ship fleet. The amendment, however, did not provide the necessary funding to increase the size of the currently 280-ship fleet by about 30 percent.

Part of that ship buildup may include recommissioning older ships, the sec. of the Navy added. Specifically, the Navy is looking into the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, many of which were built in Bath. If the Navy goes that route, BIW could have an opportunity to bid on those contracts.

“We will look for the best supplier, the best person who can react and fill contracts that we have, and the field will be open,” said Spencer.

For the time being, however, the Navy was not considering restarting the Zumwalt-class series of destroyers, which are built exclusively at BIW.

Spencer’s visit corresponded with the announcement that two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers had been awarded to BIW.

”I think we have great faith in Bath– Bath built [is] best built. And we look forward to this relationship growing and even becoming stronger,” said Spencer.

“That demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to BIW, and it’s confidence in its highly skilled workforce,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. “The contracts will help to strengthen our fleet and allow the Navy to promote stability and security in the face of proliferating threats around the globe.”

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins was key to securing funding for the additional destroyer.

The first destroyer to be built will be in the Flight IIA configuration of the destroyers currently being built at BIW, and the second will be built in the all new Flight III configuration. Beginning with DDG 116, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers have been built on the basic Flight II design with technology insertions and modernizations. The Flight III configuration will feature new design elements and upgraded technology, including a powerful Raytheon radar.

In July, Reps. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, and Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, attached an amendment to the 2018 Defense Authorization Act that blocked a requirement that the additional BIW destroyer have the Flight III radar installed.

“Congress shouldn’t be inserting itself into complex contract negotiations like this, especially once they’re underway—doing so unnecessarily threatens the job security of hundreds of hard-working Mainers at Bath Iron Works,” said Pingree in a statement at the time. “I’m proud to support this amendment to block these retroactive changes and protect the flow of work at BIW, whose level of shipbuilding is an incredible asset to our national security and our state’s economy.”  

Spencer admitted that the Navy would have preferred the additional ship to be in the Flight III configuration, but was able to work with BIW and accept a Flight IIA configuration instead.

“To be very frank with you, was that our first choice? No. We would really like the Flight III to be number one, but we worked with Bath,” said Spencer. “We said fine. We can accommodate this.”

“These contracts help to stabilize our business and are welcome news,” said BIW President Dirk Lesko in a statement. “We are grateful to Maine’s congressional delegation and Navy Secretary Spencer for their efforts and leadership.”
nstrout@timesrecord.com