Portsmouth Naval Shipyard officially opened the renovated Building 166 for the Shop 57 Insulation Team, cutting the ribbon at a June 22 ceremony to literally transform the oldest industrial building on the shipyard, Building 2, to its newest facility.
With a budget just under $11 million, this facility's opening is a milestone in the overall plan to modernize the shipyard infrastructure and will play a key role in supporting the Navy's Service-Life Extension Program for decades to come.
An insulator's primary role is to remove, repair, and reinstall the insulation on the submarine's structure and its major components. This work is vital to the functionality and longevity of the Navy's submarines. This facility provides the insulation team with the proper tooling in a state-of-the-art work environment to accomplish their mission in a safe and efficient manner.
"With the execution of the Navy's Submarine Service Life Extension Program in our near future, we are now accomplishing the necessary steps to modernize this shipyard and lean in to the 21st century. We will be ready to answer our nation's call," said Commander, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Capt. Daniel Ettlich. "Our greatest resource is our people and their health and welfare is my top priority. As Shipyard Commander, I am committed to providing our workforce the tools and facilities necessary to safely and efficiently accomplish their mission."
"We have a truly tremendous team that brought this project to completion," said Public Works Officer, Cmdr. Doug Herrin, "It has truly been a pleasure and a privilege to bring a project like this together to help us as we move into the future."