Austal USA gets green light to lease San Diego ship repair facility

Shipbuilder Austal USA has received approval from the San Diego Port of Commissioners to assume the lease of Marine Group Boat Works in the Port of San Diego.

Austal USA and Marine Group Boat Works are entering a 45-day exclusive period to close the agreement.

As informed, the shipbuilder will use the 15-acre site to focus on ship repair for U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command, and U.S. Coast Guard ships. 

The site, immediately adjacent to U.S. Naval Base San Diego, will include a newly-built dry dock designed specifically to handle small surface combatants and other small to medium size ships.

“This investment marks a major milestone in Austal’s focus on growing our services business and anchors our commitment to servicing Navy, Military Sealift and Coast Guard ships in the INDO-PACOM region,” Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh said.

Austal USA plans to establish a full service ship repair capability providing maintenance and modernization for small surface combatants, autonomous vehicles, and other vessels. The site will include a dry dock optimized to execute availabilities on littoral combat ships and other small surface combatants. Services include technical and material support, topside work, and dry docking availabilities.