USS Albany going through expanded upkeep at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (U.S> > Navy picture)
The UNITED STATE Navy remains to deal with consistent and also considerable upkeep hold-ups that impact most of its upkeep initiatives and also prevent its efforts to recover preparedness, claims a record launched today by GAO, the UNITED STATE Government Accountability Office.
From 2014 throughout of 2019, Navy ships have actually invested over 33,700 even more days in upkeep than anticipated, claims the record. The Navy was incapable to finish scheduled ship upkeep on schedule for regarding 75 percent of the upkeep durations carried out throughout 2014 with 2019, with majority of the hold-ups in 2019 going beyond 90 days. When upkeep is not finished on schedule, less ships are offered for training or procedures, which can prevent preparedness.
GAO determined several aspects that add to upkeep hold-ups, consisting of inadequate shipyard ability, scarcity of competent employees, and also delayed upkeep throughout functional implementations, to name a few. Ships waiting for or postponed in upkeep sustain operating and also assistance expenses. For instance, GAO approximated that the Navy invested greater than $1.5 billion in assistance expenses from 2008 with 2018 as a result of postponed upkeep for assault submarines.
GAO notes that the Navy has a number of initiatives underway to boost its upkeep procedures, however they will certainly take years to apply, and also will certainly call for continual monitoring interest and also financing over existing degrees. For instance, the Navy approximates it will certainly take twenty years to boost the framework at its shipyards, 4 years to recover ship team degrees, and also a number of years to boost upkeep preparation.
“Until the Navy addresses these challenges,” claims GAO, “it will certainly be prevented in its capability to restore preparedness and also get ready for the future, especially as it expands the dimension of the fleet.
Download the GAO record HERE
