Newport News Shipbuilding has launched a new operation in Goose Creek, South Carolina, focusing on producing modules for U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and submarines. Established two months ago, the facility spans nearly 50 acres with 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Its first structural unit is set to be delivered to Virginia headquarters soon. Newport News aims to expand its workforce, currently at 475, and has a training program to facilitate this. The company invests heavily in local sourcing and employee development, with plans for full production capacity by 2027-2028.
A newly formed division of the leading military shipbuilding company in the U.S. is thriving after commencing operations in South Carolina just two months prior.
Newport News Shipbuilding-Charleston Operations, which belongs to Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries, commonly referred to as HII, commenced operations in Goose Creek approximately 60 days ago.
In just two days, the facility, covering nearly 50 acres and featuring around 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space, is set to dispatch its inaugural structural unit to NNS headquarters in Virginia for the production of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
NNS is the exclusive builder of aircraft carriers for the United States and one of only two companies that construct submarines for the country, as explained by Matt Needy, general manager and vice president of Charleston operations, during a tour of the extensive facility on Wednesday. The company has managed the design, construction, overhaul, and repair of over 800 vessels for the U.S. Navy and commercial clients since its inception 139 years ago.
The aim of NNS Goose Creek operations is to focus on modules for submarines and aircraft carriers, alleviating some of the primary production workload in Virginia, according to Needy.
In January, HII completed the acquisition of all assets from metal fabricators W International SC LLC and Vivid Empire SC LLC (collectively referred to as “W International”). The financial specifics of this agreement were not disclosed.
The company specializes in two classes of nuclear-powered submarines, the Virginia-Class and the Columbia-Class. Modules produced at the Goose Creek facility include the habitability module, auxiliary machine room, and weapons module of the Virginia-Class, as well as the auxiliary machine room and weapons module for the Columbia-Class, Needy stated.
Needy mentioned that HII has been eyeing South Carolina for a considerable time, given the existing manufacturing workforce in the area.
“Due to the facilities, the workforce here, the established pipelines, and the relationships with state, regional, and educational institutions that we already had in place, this became the clear choice for rapidly boosting capacity and frequency for Newport News,” Needy remarked.
Establishing a workforce pipeline
During the acquisition, 99% of the former employees from W International transitioned to the new setup. Currently holding positions for 475 workers at the Goose Creek site, Needy anticipates an increase in that figure by several hundred.
Alexis Mervin, a class-three welder, has been part of the facility for three years.
“Everyone gets along exceptionally well here, it’s all about teamwork and collaboration,” Mervin expressed. “I’m constructing aircraft carriers and submarines for the Navy. It’s truly an incredible experience.”
Upon their entry to the NNS Goose Creek facility, employees engage in a comprehensive 12-week training program detailing the specifics of NNS operations. Throughout their training, they are regarded as full-time employees with associated benefits.
“This is a workforce-centered industry,” Needy remarked. “Each day, it requires the collective expertise and dedication of numerous skilled shipbuilders to realize these complex projects and bring the vessels to fruition.”
Since the commencement of the training initiative in October 2021, approximately 1,200 students have graduated, according to Mark Schmitt, director of plant services operations. Institutions such as Goose Creek High School and Berkley High School offer curricula that facilitate the transition to the Newport News program.
“You have these young men and women graduating from high school and signing letters of intent in front of an audience, committing to colleges and universities,” Schmitt noted. “Our equivalent is The Summit, where they come here with their families to sign a letter of intention stating ‘I’m going to train as a welder for Newport News.’ It’s a genuinely impactful moment for us.”
Ashanti Grant, an 18-year-old welder at Newport News, learned about this opportunity through his high school. After attending Trident Technical College, he completed his training with Newport News and has been employed for approximately a year.
“Before the job fair, I had no knowledge of welding,” Grant shared. “It’s a fantastic environment here.”
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The site stretches across 48 acres along the Cooper River, providing access to both deep-water transportation and railroads that traverse the property. It features 480,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities.
Investing in the Lowcountry
Adjacent to the HII campus, a Leonardo DRS facility is underway, with plans to open in 2026. This company is a prominent provider of naval power and control technology solutions for the U.S. Navy. Needy indicated that both companies share a property boundary, road access, and a single barge slip, prompting ongoing discussions to nurture that partnership.
Materials used for production are exclusively sourced from within the United States. According to Needy, HII allocates $500 million yearly for local sourcing in the Lowcountry. Additionally, HII contributes $110 million annually to its workforce in the form of investments related to education, scholarships, retirement benefits, and more.
“The demand from the Navy is unprecedented,” Needy remarked. “In my three and a half decades with Newport News and Huntington Ingalls Industries, I have never witnessed such demand for the vessels we construct today.”
While W International focused solely on welding operations, Needy stated that NNS aims to develop and expand these efforts into a larger scale.
Needy indicated that once the facility achieves its full operational capacity, it won’t only produce steel structures for modules, but complete outfitted modules including doors, walls, beds, and more. He does not anticipate reaching full production capacity until 2027 and 2028.