BAE Systems will significantly expand dry-docking capabilities at its San Diego shipyard, enhancing the ship repair, maintenance, and modernization services the company provides to the U.S. Navy, other government agencies, and commercial customers. The investment by BAE Systems, which will include the purchase of a new dry dock and a range of infrastructure improvements at the yard, will total approximately $100 million.

The company made the announcement during a ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating a new pier at the shipyard along the San Diego waterfront. Attendees included U.S. Representatives Susan Davis, Duncan Hunter, and Scott Peters.

“Our primary strategy and mission in San Diego is to support the U.S. Navy and its rebalance to the Pacific,” said Erwin Bieber, president of BAE Systems’ Platforms & Services sector. “The new pier and dry dock will complement and expand the shipyard’s existing capacity in this homeport and provide greater capabilities to our customers. Our continuing investment in the region further demonstrates our commitment to San Diego and recognizes the important role it plays in our strategy.”

The new pier and dry dock will support current and future Navy surface ship repair, maintenance, and modernization, and will accommodate cruisers, destroyers, amphibious assault ships, mine countermeasures ships, and both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship. The expanded facilities may also service other ships and vessels under contract, including those for Military Sealift Command, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Maritime Administration.

The new Pier 4, at 415-feet long and 64-feet wide, replaces a 52-year-old pier and includes new services such as fresh water, electrical, sewage, and storm water containment.

The new dry dock will measure 950-feet long and 205-feet wide, with a design lifting capacity of 55,000 tons. When operational in early 2017, it will be the company’s largest dry dock in the United States and will employ several environmental design features, including LED lighting, electric cranes, air-cooled emergency generators, a zero discharge closed-loop salt water system, and storm water recovery systems.

BAE Systems currently employs approximately 3,000 people in the region, including shipyard workers, weapons support personnel, and employees in nearby Rancho Bernardo supporting U.S. military and intelligence community customers. The new pier and dry dock are expected to increase employment opportunities at the San Diego yard.

BAE Systems is a leading provider of ship repair, maintenance, modernization, conversion, and overhaul for the Navy, other government, commercial, and private customers. The company operates seven full-service shipyards in Alabama, Florida, California, Virginia, and Hawaii, and offers a highly skilled and experienced workforce of more than 5,000 employees, eight dry docks, and significant pier space and ship support services. The company also has commercial shipbuilding and module fabrication capabilities at its Mobile, Alabama, and Jacksonville, Florida, shipyards.