Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, left, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, speak outside the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard gate after a tour of the yard Thursday, April 17. (Photo by Deb Cram, Seacoastonline)
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, urged new Secretary of the Navy John Phelan to expand the branch’s fleet of submarines, ships and aircraft carriers to better compete with China.
Phelan, a businessman chosen by President Donald Trump, toured Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Thursday afternoon, April 17, with Collins, Shaheen and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. It was Phelan’s first official visit to any U.S. public shipyard since assuming the post last month. Collins said the United States has 296 battle force-ready ships, while in the next decade, China’s fleet will grow to approximately 400.
“We need to build up our Navy. That is a bipartisan goal,” Collins told the media outside the shipyard’s Foreside gate. “China is far surpassing us in the number of ships and submarines.”
Phelan toured the USS Washington nuclear-powered attack submarine docked at the yard, spoke with workers and Commander Capt. Michael Oberdorf and heard of workforce challenges facing the 225-year-old shipyard. Among them were frequently-stated concerns — such as parking availability, local housing supply and costs, and child care — according to Shaheen.
“He seemed very impressed by what he saw and had ideas for how we can make this yard even more productive and efficient,” Shaheen said of Phelan.
Collins said the shipyard met its hiring goals last year and is slated to add another roughly 1,000 workers in the coming years to bring its civilian headcount to over 7,700 employees.
“The future of the shipyard is very bright,” Collins said.
The two senators led the charge for the Pentagon to exempt Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the Trump administration’s federal civilian hiring freeze. Six workers, all represented by the American Federation of Government Employees, were laid off, though five later came back to work, according to a previous statement from union president Bill Webber.
Neither Phelan nor King spoke to the media following the group’s tour of the installation.
The Navy secretary toured the ongoing dry dock expansion project area, which was funded through the federal Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program, now estimated to cost $2 billion, according to shipyard officials.
“The work being done at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is incredibly important to the Navy,” Phelan said in a prepared statement shared by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. “Getting in, seeing it firsthand, and having honest conversations with shipyard workers gives me an opportunity to really understand what’s working well and what can be improved.”
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