Mayport unlikely to have aircraft carrier by end of decade

[thelakelander]

We'll this sucks!

Anyway, I wonder how the Navy's delayed plans coordinate with JAXPORT's dreams to dredge to Blount Island?  At one point, I was under the impression that the desired dredging would piggyback off the Navy's dredging of the river,  to Mayport to accommodate a nuclear carrier. I wonder if that's still the plan?

Naval Station Mayport is still slated to be the homeport of a three-ship amphibious group by the end of the year, but chances of an nuclear aircraft carrier being stationed here by the end of this decade appear to be over.

full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/05/03/jacksonville-unlikely-to-have-nuclear.html

[Debbie Thompson]

If Norfolk and their MOC's have their way, it will never happen.

[carpnter]

If Norfolk and their MOC's have their way, it will never happen.

From what I've heard from people who've been to Norfolk, if it wasn't for the Navy bases and shipyards that city would die. Politics too often get in the way of what is best for the Navy, every Senator wants to keep jobs in their state and they use their influence to keep the military from moving.  Were north Florida an area that voted more for the democrats and Norfolk more for republicans, you might see more of an effort to get a carrier moved at the expense of VA, even if it wasn't what the Navy wanted. (And if the republicans were in power you'd see more of an effort to move a carrier right now)

[I-10east]

Were north Florida an area that voted more for the democrats and Norfolk more for republicans, you might see more of an effort to get a carrier moved at the expense of VA, even if it wasn't what the Navy wanted.

Last time I checked North Florida was nearly all red. Even Duval County (in the election) voted Republican majority (although that gap is closing).