MOBILE, Ala. — Austal USA welcomed Vice Admiral Joseph Cahill, Commander, Naval Surface Forces and Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, at the company’s West Coast waterfront repair and services facility in National City, Calif. on October 13, 2026.  While onsite, he engaged with the specialists and technicians performing ship maintenance on USS Oakland (LCS 24) which is undergoing repairs in newly certified Dry Dock Independence (named after USS Independence (LCS 2)).  He also met with leadership to receive an update on the activities at the facility and discuss the value the dry dock brings to the defense maritime industry in the region.

“We were honored to host Vice Admiral Cahill at Austal USA’s West Coast waterfront repair and services facility and to give him the opportunity to see Dry Dock Independence supporting USS Oakland,” commented Austal USA President Gene Miller. “The successful docking of Oakland marks an important milestone for Austal USA, our Navy customer, and the San Diego maritime community as we expand critical ship repair capacity on the West Coast.”

“Our decisive combat power begins right here in the Foundry, with the Sailors and maritime and industrial workforce who are performing this vital repair effort to build the combat readiness of our warships,” stated VADM Cahill. “The dry-dock capabilities of our partners here in San Diego enable us to build and sustain our combat readiness in the Foundry.”

In August, Austal USA received a contract, valued at $10.8 million, awarded by the Navy for emergent maintenance drydocking availability of Oakland.  This contract calls for Austal USA’s repair and services team to replace the ship’s main service diesel generator, a complex project requiring critical work below the waterline, making the new dry dock essential to its successful completion. This is the first ship to enter the new dry dock which received full certification from the Navy this summer. 

Performing the work in a dry dock, rather than pierside, will significantly improve efficiency and will help return the ship to the fleet as quickly as possible and in peak operating condition. Providing dry dock capacity in San Diego offers crew stability by allowing them to remain in their homeport near their families, while keeping the ship close to the Navy’s San Diego-based maintenance team.

The dry dock has a 9,000 light ton lifting capacity. It is 531 feet (162 meters) long and 154 feet (47 meters) wide, with a wingwall width of 13.12 feet (4.0 meters) and a maximum draft of 36 feet (11 meters). The dry dock cranes have a combined lifting capacity of 16 metric tons.

From Austal USA, Oct.14, 2026