Senator Collins Announces Nearly $60 Million Contract Awarded for New Facility at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced today that a $59,397,989 contract was awarded to Methuen Construction Company to build a paint, blast, and rubber consolidation facility at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY).  As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Collins secured this funding in the fiscal year 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

The project at PNSY will consolidate and renovate several existing facilities which will achieve additional efficiencies at the shipyard.

“As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I championed funding for this infrastructure project because it will provide valuable support to PNSY’s highly skilled employees while significantly increasing efficiency at the shipyard,” said Senator Collins.  “Once completed, these consolidated and renovated facilities will provide workers with modern, streamlined spaces to fulfill their mission of repairing and modernizing our Navy’s submarines.”

This project will consolidate paint, blast, and rubber manufacturing and plastic molding operations into one location within the controlled industrial area by constructing a new facility, converting existing buildings, and demolishing excess footprint.  The new facility will be low-rise and consist of high- and low-bay industrial shop areas, as well as offices, break rooms, locker rooms, training, and support spaces.  Buildings #55, #60, and #74 will be renovated and converted to support industrial, maintenance, and their administrative functions.  The project also relocates and consolidates Shop #06, into Building #60.  The new facility will support installation of new blast and paint booths requiring ventilation systems, dust collectors, and full floor grit recovery systems.  New production areas will also support consolidation of rubber production and molding operations, fiberglass repairs, adequate cleaning/prep areas, and environmentally controlled storage for curing preserved products.  The high bay area and shaft refurbishment booth will be equipped with bridge cranes.  The very large parts work area will have convenient access for portal crane from the waterfront and trucks for component delivery.

Work is expected to be completed by September 2023.