Austal USA to run San Diego waterfront ship repair facility

Austal USA will operate a waterfront ship repair facility in the Port of San Diego, the company announced Wednesday.

Austal is closing an agreement with Marine Group Boat Works to assume its lease on a 15-acre site after receiving approval from the San Diego Port of Commissioners. Austal and Marine Group Boat Works are now in a 45-day exclusive period to close the deal.

The site is immediately adjacent to U.S. Naval Base San Diego. Austal will build a new dry dock designed to repair littoral combat ships, small surface combatants and other small and medium-size ships, the company said in a press release.

The facility will be able to provide technical and material support, topside work, and dry-docking availabilities.