Ground Broken On Electric Boat Shipyard Expansion

GROTON, CT—Ceremonial ground was broken Friday on General Dynamic's South Yard Assembly Building in the Groton shipyard, a new 200,000 square-foot facility dedicated to construction of the Columbia class submarine.

Elected officials at the event were Congressman Joe Courtney (D- Conn. 2nd), Governor Ned Lamont (D-Conn.), Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz (D-Conn.), State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), state representatives and local leaders.

"This is great news for the town of Groton and our region as a whole,” said Rep. Christine Conley, (D-Groton/Ledyard). “The creation of this new facility is part of an over decade-long proposal that’s projected to bring in thousands of jobs.”

Rep. Anthony Nolan (D-New London) said the new 200,000-square-foot South Yard Assembly Building is a "turning point for Electric Boat and the region."

“Not only will this new facility assure production of the world’s best submarines for the U.S. Navy, but E-B is also living up to its commitment of high-paying, career-oriented manufacturing jobs. I look forward to completion of the new building and thank everyone who helped make this happen.”

According to a press release, construction of the South Yard Assembly Building (SYAB) and other new structures along the waterfront is expected to last until 2023 with contractual obligations to hire only Connecticut and Rhode Island-based trade workers and clean energy guidelines to limit environmental impacts on the Thames River. By the year 2030, the number of Electric Boat’s employees is projected to reach 18,000.

Rep. Kate Rotella (D-Stonington/North Stonington) called the move a "major investment in our region and the great statewide impact it will have not only on our economy, but particularly in the manufacturing industry."

Rep. Joe de la Cruz (D-Groton/New London) added the project "will also play a large role in the expansion of supply vendors.”

EB said in a post on social media that, "This expansion will be the largest construction project to take place at the Groton shipyard in more than 45 years."

The groundbreaking was attended by General Dynamics leadership, EB shipbuilders, Navy partners, and project team members.

General Dynamics said the building "is the centerpiece of an $850 million expansion" at the Groton shipyard. The company will also expand and update other manufacturing spaces and build a floating dry dock to launch Columbia submarines.

"The South Yard Assembly Building will serve as a powerful tool in the hands of the skilled shipbuilders here at Electric Boat,” said Navy Rear Admiral Pappano, who leads the Columbia Class Program Executive Office.

The building will house miles of steel casings, and overhead cranes able to "lift up to 170 tons or approximately the weight of two space shuttles."

According to a press release, the new plant will "help the shipyard better prepare for the production of the Colombia-Class submarines it plans to build for the United States Navy through 2042."