How long has BAE Systems had its ship repair facility in Jacksonville, Florida?
Tim: We acquired the Jacksonville shipyard in 2010 from a company called Atlantic Marine, a ship repair company that primarily performed commercial work. Today, Jacksonville focuses to a greater extent on naval vessels, while still successfully competing in the commercial market.
Why did BAE Systems want a presence in Jacksonville?
Tim: BAE Systems already has an excellent worldwide network of partner shipyards. However, we felt we would gain a strategic advantage from growing our sustainment and naval modernisation capabilities in North Florida. The growth gives us a better base from which to service US Navy and commercial vessels operating from the region, as well as providing a deployed support destination for vessels from elsewhere in the world. For example, the Royal Navy Offshore Patrol vessel HMS Medway, which routinely patrols the Caribbean on behalf of the UK, uses us as a base for deployed support.
What are the advantages, strategically, to you and to your customers of having a shipyard in this specific location?
Tim: Our Jacksonville shipyard is superbly placed. As well as having a long history of ship repair culture, and a good worker base in the area, it’s only two miles up the St. Johns River from the deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the busy Mayport Naval Station. As well as being a major port (with heavy importation of goods by sea), Jacksonville is a major U.S. Navy Fleet Concentration Area. More than a dozen US Navy ships rely on sustainment from the private industrial base, which prominently includes BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair.
What classes of vessel can Jacksonville handle?
Tim: In terms of commercial vessels, we work on everything from tugs to research vessels, to superyachts and small boats. The majority of our work, however, is for the US Navy, and specifically non nuclear-powered surface combatants. We can dry dock guided missile cruisers of around 567 feet (173m) and 9,600 long tons. However, we frequently work on guided missile destroyers (around 154m, 8,300 long tons), Littoral Combat Ships, and various other classes.
What about the rest of Jacksonville’s capabilities?
Dean: Jacksonville has nearly 1,000 meters of full service piers, more than 12,500 square meters of covered workshops, high capacity cranes and modern production equipment, as well as three dry docks and two marine railways.
Tim: We can do everything you would expect from a 101 acre ship repair facility of this calibre – ranging from the ability to work on ship mechanical and electrical systems out-of-water; to supporting modernisation work performed by third parties; to conversions, emergency repairs, life extension, surveys and refits. We also have extensive fabrication, pipework and painting facilities.
What makes Jacksonville an attractive base of operations?
Dean: Jacksonville has good weather year around for efficient production. Combined with easy access from most East Coast and Caribbean trade routes and OPV operating areas, the location is readily accessible and able to quickly respond to planned or emergent repair needs – whenever the need arises. For the MoD’s OPVs, this means greater on-station/mission time.
Tim: We are recognised as a world-class ship repair facility, and a strategically important site for Warship Support for any vessels transiting the Atlantic or Caribbean. The ownership of a yard like Jacksonville really helps BAE Systems stand out in the eyes of its customers.
Dean: Our provision of Warship Support to the Royal Navy out of Jacksonville is a great example of how BAE Systems leverages its scale and expertise as a global enterprise to deliver on requirements. Colleagues from the UK collaborate with their colleagues in Jacksonville, leveraging both their intimate knowledge of Royal Navy vessels and Jacksonville’s superb facilities, to provide the best service we can for our customers. In my view few companies in the world can offer the same combination of expertise, capability, reach and dedication.
