Clock ticks for the US Navy to present a recovery plan for faulty welds in its vessels
Defective welds were already identified in the Virginia-class submarine New Jersey, which entered service in September. (Photo: Lexi Whitehead/HII)
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has determined that the US Navy should provide a recovery plan for its in-service and under-construction vessels impacted by knowingly faulty welds by workers at Newport News Shipbuilding (NSS) by 11 October.
The branch should also submit to HASC an assessment of any knowingly defective welds that pose a threat to sailors’ safety detailing all known impacts to its surface and under-surface platforms.
The service, however, is still evaluating its fleet. For now, it has identified issues in one destroyer and two submarines. The possibility of having other capabilities affected has not yet been ruled out
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