Ballistic missile submarine USS Louisiana docks for refueling overhaul

The US Navy’s Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN-743) arrived at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility earlier this month ahead of the boat’s scheduled refueling overhaul.

The submarine will spend the next two and a half years receiving new nuclear fuel and system upgrades, in addition to getting a modernized reverse osmosis system.

Louisiana will also undergo modifications to berthing and bathrooms to allow enlisted women to serve aboard.

The project is expected to finish in 2022 and will take approximately 729,000 man-days to complete with a cost of around $400 million.

The latest contract for work on the project was awarded on September 16 to International Marine and Industrial Applicators. The company received $14.1 million to carry out structural repairs and maintenance on the submarine.

“We have assembled a talented team with significant experience. From the project superintendent to the zone managers, we have developed strong relationships with our ship’s force counterparts. Collectively, the team has embraced the challenge of on-time completion of the availability,” said Ken Rogers, Louisiana deputy project superintendent.

Louisiana, homeported at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, was commissioned on Sept. 6, 1998 and is the fourth commissioned ship by that name. It was the last of 18 Ohio-class submarines to be commissioned.