Biz Journal Editorial: Home port advantage gone

[thelakelander]

Home port advantage gone

Jacksonville Business Journal - August 3, 2007

There's more for the Navy than Virginia and the sooner that the Pentagon and Virginia's congressional delegation realize that, the sooner our nation will benefit.

Virginia congressmen have fought Florida's efforts to secure a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace the decommissioned John F. Kennedy at Naval Station Mayport, just as they resisted reopening Naval Air Station Cecil Field and filling it with jets based in Oceana, Va. The delegation has repeatedly downplayed the advantages that Northeast Florida offers the Navy, preferring to protect its interests instead.

Now a partnership between two Virginia ship repair companies has landed a contract to work on the 13 frigates at Mayport. The deal could exceed $50 million over five years.

The losing bidders included Atlantic Marine Florida and Earl Industries, both of which have sizable local operations. Their local presence and experience make them as qualified as other bidders, if not more so, and the Navy should reconsider its decision accordingly.

Atlantic Marine has worked with the Navy for about 40 years without protesting the awarding of a bid, and we respect its desire to preserve a good relationship with the Navy. We urge the company to contest this one, though, for its case would likely be strong and the community would benefit greatly if it won.

Our local ship repair business has already been hit with the recent decommissioning of the Kennedy. The carrier provided significant opportunities for repair work, including a $300 million overhaul in 2003.

The talented employees that companies have used on such important projects could leave if local opportunities dry up. This would cause irreparable damage to a vital industry.

The Navy should consider this should Atlantic Marine and Earl Industries protest the awarding of the Mayport contract. Failing to maintain a strong ship repair business at Mayport would diminish the area's ability to maintain a strong naval fleet.

The Navy needs more than its Virginia bases if it is to spread its East Coast assets effectively. Navy Secretary Donald Winter has acknowledged that nuclear-powered carriers should be dispersed at more than one port on the coast, but he alone cannot bring one to Mayport.

We urge the Navy and Congress to work together to replace the Kennedy with a nuclear carrier, and other ships if possible, to keep Mayport strong and our nation safe.

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2007/08/06/editorial1.html