The US Navy has awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman to provide additional maintenance work for the extended drydocking selected restricted availability (EDSRA) of Enterprise-class aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.

The EDSRA is a work package that includes drydocking, hull, machinery, electrical piping and ship alteration work to improve combat capability and safety.

The ESDRA allows for hull inspections and recoating of the ship as well as other maintenance-related work below the waterline which is not possible when the ship is waterborne.

The work will be performed in Virginia and is expected to be complete by December 2009.

The $7m contract has been awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington.