GROTON, Connecticut — March 28, 2026: The U.S. Navy has completed a key milestone in the maintenance cycle of the USS Albany (SSN 753), as Portsmouth Naval Shipyard successfully undocked the Los Angeles-class attack submarine on March 26 from the Auxiliary Repair Dry Dock (ARDM-4) at Naval Submarine Base New London. The docking period concluded ahead of schedule, marking the completion of a major phase in the submarine’s modernization and repair availability.
The nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, which arrived in Groton during the summer of 2025, underwent an extensive package of maintenance, structural inspection, and system upgrades intended to restore and enhance its operational capability. The availability included detailed structural assessments, targeted hull and infrastructure repairs, and the replacement as well as modernization of critical mechanical and electrical systems to align the platform with current U.S. Navy fleet requirements.
Maintenance Conducted Through Off-Yard Availability
Unlike standard shipyard overhauls conducted at its primary facility in Kittery, Maine, the work on USS Albany was executed as an off-yard availability. This required Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to deploy a forward-based workforce and coordinate closely with personnel at Naval Submarine Base New London throughout 2025 to establish the necessary infrastructure and logistical support.
At peak levels, more than 400 shipyard personnel were temporarily assigned to Groton to carry out specialized repair and modernization tasks. The coordination effort ensured that the submarine could undergo a full maintenance cycle without returning to the shipyard’s homeport, reflecting the Navy’s approach to distributed maintenance operations.
Project Execution Amid Weather Disruptions
The maintenance period continued through winter conditions that included multiple storms affecting the region. Despite these disruptions, the project remained on schedule and was ultimately completed ahead of its planned timeline.
Captain Jesse Nice, commander of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, stated that the combined efforts of the shipyard workforce and the submarine’s crew enabled consistent progress throughout the availability period. He noted that the execution of an off-yard availability under challenging environmental conditions required sustained coordination and workforce adaptability.
Transition to Testing and Certification Phase
With undocking complete, USS Albany will now enter the next stage of its return-to-service process. This phase includes system testing, certification procedures, and crew readiness evaluations before the submarine can resume operational deployments.
Commander Adam Nebenzahl, the submarine’s commanding officer, said the early completion of the docking period allows the vessel to move forward more quickly into operational preparation. He indicated that the crew will focus on readiness activities necessary to rejoin the fleet.
Role in Fleet Operations
USS Albany (SSN 753) is a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine designed for a range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface operations, intelligence gathering, and strike missions using cruise missiles. Maintenance availabilities of this scale are part of routine lifecycle management aimed at sustaining operational readiness across the submarine force.
The undocking operation itself involved tugboats maneuvering the submarine out of ARDM-4 and into the Thames River, marking the physical completion of the dry dock phase.
Contribution to Industrial Base and Readiness
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard plays a central role in maintaining the U.S. Navy’s attack submarine fleet through repair, overhaul, and modernization work. Activities such as the USS Albany availability contribute to the broader maritime industrial base and support ongoing efforts to maintain a combat-ready submarine force amid increasing operational demand.
The completion of this availability represents one of several ongoing Navy initiatives focused on ensuring that undersea platforms remain deployable, capable, and aligned with current mission requirements.
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