NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News Shipbuilding says it’s discovered that faulty welds may have knowingly been made to submarines and aircraft carriers under construction at the shipyard.
Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin made the announcement on Friday afternoon, calling it “very serious and disappointing news.”
“Fortunately, this issue was brought to light by shipbuilders who did the right thing and came forward by either self-reporting or calling the HII OpenLine,” Boykin said. “I thank them for their honesty and bravery.”
There are still few details about the scope of the issues at this time, but USNI News reported the defective welds were made on non-critical components of the subs and carriers.
Boykin says after the shipyard investigated and confirmed the reports, they “immediately put together a team made up of both internal and independent engineering and quality subject matter experts to determine the root causes, bound the issue and put in place immediate short-term corrective actions as we work through longer-term solutions.”