Two fleet oilers and a 'pier-at-sea' are added to the yard's work manifest
San Diego’s General Dynamics-NASSCO will get $1.4 billion in federal funds to help build three huge ships for the Navy, money that will solidify the work force as the last major shipbuilder on the West Coast.
The $1.4 billion contract comes about two months after the San Diego shipyard received $600 million in seed money for the vessels. The other $100 million is being spent to prepare for construction of the ESB, which does not yet have a name.The $2 billion total that the Defense Department is devoting to these three ships could eventually be expanded to $2.7 billion to enable NASSCO to build another fleet oiler. As is, the money will help NASSCO maintain a workforce of roughly 3,500.