Norfolk Naval Shipyard has begun a $442 million modernization of Dry Dock 3, a major infrastructure project aimed at improving the maintenance and modernization of Virginia-class submarines as part of the Navy’s Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP).
The project was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony at the Portsmouth, Va., shipyard, where Dry Dock 3 has supported naval maintenance operations since opening in 1908. Originally built to service battleships during World War I, the dry dock is now being upgraded to support newer nuclear-powered platforms and improve maintenance throughput for the Navy fleet.
In December 2025, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Atlantic awarded Chesapeake, Va.-based MEB General Contractors Inc. a $442.1 million firm-fixed-price contract for the work. The total potential contract value, including options and award fees, is approximately $467.2 million…