SAN DIEGO — Austal USA has been awarded a $10.8 million contract by the U.S. Navy for emergent maintenance and dry-docking work on the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24).
The maintenance will be carried out at Austal USA’s waterfront ship repair facility in San Diego using the company’s newly certified floating dry dock. The contract marks an important step in expanding Austal USA’s ability to conduct dry-dock repair work on U.S. Navy ships on the West Coast.
Under the contract, Austal USA’s Repair and Services team will replace the ship’s main service diesel generator. The work requires access to areas below the ship’s waterline, making dry-docking necessary.
Austal said using the floating dry dock instead of conducting the work alongside a pier is expected to improve efficiency and help return USS Oakland to the fleet more quickly and in peak operating condition.
“This contract award is a significant milestone for Austal USA and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in achieving dry dock certification,” Austal USA President Gene Miller said. He added that the company now has the capability to provide full-service dry-dock support for extended, year-long repairs.
Miller also said that an additional dry dock in San Diego gives the Navy greater capacity for complex maintenance projects and emergent repairs at a dedicated dry-dock facility.
Keeping the maintenance work in San Diego also allows the ship’s crew to remain near their home port and families during the maintenance period. The location keeps the ship close to Navy maintenance personnel in the region who oversee the work.
New San Diego Floating Dry Dock
Austal USA’s floating dry dock was fully certified and declared operational on September 14, 2026. It was designed to support small surface combatants and ships of similar size.
The dry dock has a 9,000-light-ton lifting capacity and measures 531 feet (162 meters) long and 154 feet (47 meters) wide. It has a maximum draft of 36 feet (11 meters), while its wingwalls are 13.12 feet (4 meters) wide.
Cranes installed directly on the dry dock provide a combined lifting capacity of 16 metric tons, supporting maintenance activities during extended repair periods.
Companies and organizations involved in the final installation and certification preparations included R.E. Staite Engineering Inc., which provided dredging and construction services, Chula Vista Electric for shore power installation, and support from PAE Industrial Operations, the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center and Heger Dry Dock.
The new facility expands Austal USA’s repair capabilities in San Diego beyond maintenance work that can be performed alongside a pier. The facility is intended to support maintenance of U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command and U.S. Coast Guard vessels.
USS Oakland
USS Oakland is an Independence-variant littoral combat ship built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. The Navy accepted delivery of the ship on June 26, 2020, and it was commissioned on April 17, 2021.
The Navy lists USS Oakland as a San Diego-based Independence-variant LCS. The class is designed for operations in near-shore environments while also supporting open-ocean missions.
The $10.8 million maintenance contract will therefore be the first major project for USS Oakland at Austal USA’s newly operational San Diego floating dry dock, providing the company with an opportunity to conduct below-waterline maintenance at its own dedicated facility.
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