Posted on 04/01/2008 11:43:35 AM PDT by GATOR NAVY
NORFOLK
The Navy could spend nearly $500 million to ready Mayport Naval Station in Florida for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier - perhaps from Norfolk - by 2014.
Or it could choose to make no changes in the base's operations.
A draft report released Friday by the Navy proposed a range of options for the future of Mayport, the Jacksonville base that lost its only carrier, the John F. Kennedy, when the ship was decommissioned last year.
The Navy's decision, expected early next year, could determine whether ships and perhaps thousands of sailors from Hampton Roads relocate to northern Florida. Mark Dussia, the Navy project manager on the study, said Monday that the assets could also be shifted from another port.
"That decision hasn't been made," Dussia said in a telephone interview. The Navy has not selected its preferred alternative, he said.
Virginia officials immediately panned the idea of renovating Mayport, calling it expensive and unnecessary.
Jessica Smith, spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, said the Navy has higher priorities than dispersing its fleet. The need to do that has been diminished since the end of the Cold War, she said.
U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, whose district includes Norfolk Naval Station and Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, said the Navy should also conduct a full economic analysis of the options before making a decision.
Frank Roberts, executive director of the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, said the Navy had $6 billion in unfunded needs in the current defense budget.
"Why would we want to spend more money?" he asked.
But Florida representatives were encouraged by the report. U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez said the study found no barriers preventing Mayport from becoming a nuclear-capable port.
To accommodate a nuclear carrier, the Navy would have to dredge a channel about 10 feet deeper and build three major maintenance facilities, according to the report.
The Navy estimates it would cost $50 million to dredge 5.7 million cubic yards of sediment and up to $370 million to build the shore and pier infrastructure.
"As we work to make this a reality, finding the funding necessary will not be an obstacle," Martinez said in a statement. "This project is in the best interest of our state, the Navy and our national security."
Adm. Mike Mullen, then chief of naval operations, ordered the study in 2006.
The Navy will begin to decommission frigates stationed at Mayport in 2010; within four years, it could be home to 11 ships, less than half its current level.
The report studied the moving of destroyers, cruisers, amphibious assault ships and a carrier to Mayport. Only two of the 13 alternatives would increase personnel at the base above the 2006 level: moving a carrier and two amphibious ships, or moving a carrier, four destroyers, a frigate and two amphibious ships.
The public has 45 days to comment on the draft report. A final version is scheduled to be released in November, with a decision due in January 2009.
Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2322, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com
For the record....Mayport is located on the estuary of the River Of May, now known as the St John’s River. It is very near the site of Fort Caroline, (now a US National Monument)the French attempt at a colony circa 1564 and site of a monument erected by the French Admiral Ribault.
The Spanish landed at St Agustine and marched north to destroy the fort and occupants. They then proceeded to enlarge the settlement at St Agustine using labor that included black slaves.
The French never returned to the southern USA as colonists.
The story was memorialized in 1887 by Kirk Monro in his book “The Falmingo Feather” Excellant records of the day to day activities describing the French failure are extant
Voting for Jacksonville. The carrier needs to be closer to South America and Hugo Chavez so that he knows we are here and we won’t let him get away with any nefarious plans.
$500 million is a lot to save a two days of sailing. I don’t see it happening myself. Maybe they’ll toss some crudes units down there but not a CVN. There’s no sense in putting amphibs there either. They’ll be further away from NC where they pick up their Marines, not to mention the wrong direction if you’re worried about S. America.
But sense doesn’t play into this stuff. Like I said, it will come down to clout in Congress.
You got that right!
As a former salior, once-stationed in Mayport, I think I can safely say that this decision will not be a military one. It will be purely political.
Having visted Mayport as recently as two years ago, I can say that introducing a little more "military money" into the region would be good for their economy. The area has really gone to waste since I was stationed there in the late 80's and early 90's.
Norfolk isn't on the other side of the globe, it's less than an additional day's steaming away for a carrier headed to the southern Caribbean.
The the defense budget not the North Florida economic stimulus budget. That half a billion could be better spent covering some of the maintenance that's being deferred.
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