Virginia-class attack submarine USS North Carolina has left dry dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard after completing the dry-dock phase of a scheduled maintenance and modernisation period.
The submarine, designated SSN 777, was undocked on 12 August at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Hawaii. It has now shifted to a pier-side berth, where work will continue ahead of its eventual return to operational service.
The US Navy said the submarine had undergone restoration and modernisation work during the dry-dock period, with the undocking marking completion of that portion of the maintenance programme.
USS North Carolina is homeported at Pearl Harbor and assigned to Submarine Squadron 1. Commissioned on 3 May 2008, the boat was the fourth Virginia-class submarine to enter service and is the fourth US Navy vessel to carry the name of the state of North Carolina.
Project supervisor Khonsa Phommavong said in the Navy release that cooperation between the shipyard workforce and the submarine’s crew had been central to keeping the programme moving.
Phommavong said: “Cmdr. Fritts’ leadership fostered an environment of standards and expectations, complete transparency, and mutual accountability. By maintaining an open dialogue regarding daily priorities and risks, he ensured that both the ship’s force and our civilians were aligned on the same mission, effectively eliminating silos and driving us toward a unified goal.”
Commander Michael Fritts, commanding officer of USS North Carolina, said the submarine had been undocked on schedule despite the complexity involved in a major overhaul.
Fritts said: “I’m extremely proud of my crew, the A77 Project Team, and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for undocking North Carolina on time.”
He added: “Our teams have overcome many challenges due to the complexity of a major overhaul; however, thanks to strong collaboration, we have kept our availability schedule on track. True to its ‘No Ka Oi’ (the best) motto, PHNSY continues to set the standard for excellence.”
The Virginia class forms the current backbone of US Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine construction. Boats of the class are designed for missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, land attack, intelligence gathering and support for special operations forces.
According to the Navy, USS North Carolina is capable of conducting anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, strike missions, special operations support and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard carries out maintenance, repair and modernisation work on US Navy submarines and surface ships in the Pacific. Its location in Hawaii makes it a major maintenance facility between the US West Coast and forward operating areas in the western Pacific.
Shipyard commander Captain Ryan McCrillis said in the release: “Returning a critical asset like North Carolina back to the fleet is a massive accomplishment, but the real story is the dedication of the people who made it happen.”
He added: “The strength and spirit of aloha this workforce has is immense. It drives our people to support one another, face every demanding shift together, and pour their pride into this mission.”
The submarine’s departure from dry dock does not mark the completion of the overall maintenance period. Pier-side work and operational preparations remain before the boat can return to active fleet operations.
Phommavong said: “When I look back at the effort invested to get North Carolina ready for undocking, what makes me most proud is the unwavering commitment and dedication of our people. It’s very motivating.”
USS North Carolina will continue its maintenance availability alongside the pier at Pearl Harbor as the shipyard and crew work through the remaining stages required before the submarine returns to operational status with the Pacific Fleet.
