No-Brainer Time: Bring Back Mare Island Naval Shipyard

Fleet Logic Issue #13 — January 23, 2026

“Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end” - Closing Time, Semisonic, Feeling Strangely Fine

Good tune, and one that certainly came to mind in early January of this year. I saw a news story about an ending, and then I immediately saw how that ending could be a new beginning that could be of great benefit to the US Navy.

On December 30th, 2025, local government officials were notified that Mare Island Dry Dock, LLC would be closing their facility at Mare Island, California. The abrupt shut down caused all 80 of its workers to be laid off following the loss of a key Coast Guard contract to an Oregon competitor. (See SFGate: Bay Area shipyard dating back over a century closes) SFGate

The dry dock’s financial collapse was immediate and total, with the city of Vallejo receiving less than a week’s notice before the facility closed, and the region has now suffered three major industrial losses in a short span.

The loss is tragic for the area, and for the workers. No doubt about it. But inside that setback lies an opportunity, one that could make things right and potentially lead to a revival of the local economy. It’s an opportunity the US Navy needs to take advantage of, one that corrects a mistake that was made years ago.

Why Mare Island Mattered — and Still Does

See, the Navy and Mare Island go way back.

Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the U.S. Navy’s very first West Coast base, established in 1854 to support Pacific defense after the Mexican-American War. For 142 years, this facility was in constant operation as a pillar of American sea power in the Pacific.

Beginning with the wood-hulled sloop USS Saginaw in 1859 and extending up to the nuclear powered attack submarine USS Drum (SSN-677) in 1970, Mare Island built hundreds of ships for the fleet. Expanded massively in both World Wars, it led record-setting construction efforts, created riverine training hubs during Vietnam, and launched the West Coast’s first nuclear submarine in 1957. Even in its final decades, it remained a premier submarine overhaul facility.

Sadly, despite its long service, Mare Island was closed in 1996 under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process. The justification cited duplication of services at Pearl Harbor and Puget Sound, the opportunity to return land to civilian use, and the economic strength of the Bay Area to absorb the hit. (See Naval History and Heritage Command: Mare Island Naval Shipyard) Naval History and Heritage Command

An Operational Shipyard, Already in Place

With the benefit of hindsight, given the Navy’s desperate need for shipyard capacity the decision to close Mare Island looks like a strategic mistake. The closure dispersed skilled workers, gave up key West Coast repair capacity, and removed a historic anchor from the fleet’s Pacific posture.

But, now the opportunity exists to correct the mistake. Mare Island should be brought back into service as a Naval Shipyard.

The opportunity here is unique. Unlike shuttered facilities elsewhere, Mare Island isn’t a rusting relic. The site still includes two active concrete graving docks (720′ × 98′ and 680′ × 90.5′), more than 1,300 feet of secure berthing, cranes rated up to 268,000 lbs, a host of ship support systems, and a skilled workforce—albeit currently laid off—that had been actively repairing U.S. government and commercial vessels until the end of 2025. A third dry dock (525′ × 122′) was being prepared to be returned to service.(See Mare Island Dry Dock, LLC: Services) Mare Island Dry Dock

These are not theoretical capabilities. They exist, on the ground, now. The people are not theoretical, either. They just need to be rehired, and they can become the core of the new Naval Shipyard’s workforce.

A Strategic West Coast Asset

The Navy’s public shipyard capacity is stretched thin. Pearl Harbor and Puget Sound are both overloaded with submarine and carrier maintenance. While Naval Base San Diego is a fleet hub, its graving dock infrastructure is limited and often under repair. Private yards are few and over-tasked.

The closure of Mare Island Dry Dock, LLC removes a rare and vital West Coast dry dock complex from national use—at a time when the Navy is begging for throughput. In terms of geography, labor force, and existing facilities, no other site offers the same combination.

Why the Navy Should Act Now

The logic is simple. The Navy needs dry docks. Mare Island has them.

Reacquiring the facility—whether through direct purchase, lease-to-own, or emergency authorization—would immediately restore West Coast capacity, preserve a skilled workforce, and offer a home for urgent repairs and future maintenance. The Navy would provide a steady stream of work for the yard, allowing expansion of the workforce, helping bring jobs to an area that has lost many in recent times. It’s a win for both the fleet and the communities surrounding the facility.

With today’s industrial bottlenecks, bringing Mare Island back into the Navy system isn’t just nostalgia.

It’s a strategic necessity.

Thanks for reading.

-Alan Ramsey

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Fleet Logic is an independent publication offering commentary, opinion, and analysis on naval strategy, defense acquisition, and related topics. While we strive for accuracy and thoroughness, the views expressed are those of the author and do not represent official positions of the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, or any affiliated organization. This newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional, military, or legal advice.

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