USS Essex transits the San Diego Bay in preparation for arrival pier side at Naval Base San Diego. Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Melvin Fatimehin/BAE Systems.

The US Navy has awarded a docking selected restricted availability (DSRA) contract to BAE Systems for the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, USS Essex, landing helicopter dock (LHD 2).

The estimated value of the contract is $125.5m and it comes with an option.

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Upon exercising all the options, the new cumulative value of the contract will become approximately $148.2m.

Under this contract, BAE Systems’ San Diego Ship Repair will drydock and provide post-deployment maintenance services to the ship.

The DSRA contract will see the company perform hull, tank and mechanical work on the ship.

Other refurbishment works include repairing the internal and external decks and reconditioning the spaces for ship’s crew.

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Work on the USS Essex is expected to commence in June and complete by September next year.

BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair vice-president and general manager David Thomas said: “USS Essex recently returned to San Diego following an extended overseas deployment.

“I look forward to the BAE Systems-Navy team delivering upon our commitment to restore Essex’s material condition and prepare it for future deployments.”

Homeported in San Diego, 844-foot-long USS Essex is the fifth US Navy ship to be named after Essex County, Massachusetts.

In 2021, USS Essex (LHD 2) conducted a training exercise with the UK Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Separately, the company’s San Diego Ship Repair has received another $89.4m depot maintenance period (DMP) availability contract for the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89).

The DMP contract includes additional options, which if exercised, will increase the value of the contract to around $95.2m.

Works are expected to start in May this year and finish by November 2023.

Under this contract, San Diego Ship Repair is planning to drydock the ship at the San Diego Naval Base and complete the remaining work at its Barrio Logan facility.

At present, the company is aiming to complete a 22-month DSRA contract for USS Boxer (LHD 4).

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