Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro told the House Armed Services Committee that “the Navy is evaluating all legal options” over suspected faulty welds on three in-service ships and 23 ships yet-to-be delivered at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding, according to an Oct. 3 letter obtained by USNI News.
Additionally Del Toro told the committee that “this matter has been referred to the Department of Justice to investigate any potential claims for breach of contract or false claims.” Navy Times first reported on the message from Del Toro on Friday.
HII referred USNI News to the Department of Justice when asked about a potential investigation.
The letter came the same day as a HASC request this week to Del Toro to provide the committee more information about several welds on aircraft carriers and Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines that were made by shipyard workers at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding who did not follow proper procedures.
“NNS reports that the issues involve welders who did not follow welding procedures properly … As of today, the Navy has identified three in-service ships that are affected by this welding deficiency: USS George Washington (CVN-73), USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-795) and USS New Jersey (SSN-796),” wrote Del Toro.
“Naval Sea Systems Command has assessed that the welds were not components or systems that affect ship safety or operations. NAVSEA … has determined the ships are safe to operate.”
In addition to the two Virginia-class attack boats and George Washington, Del Toro said NAVSEA is in the process of evaluating welds on a combination of 23 new construction ships and aircraft carriers during their mid-life refueling and overhaul, with a goal of completing the assessment by mid-October.
Del Toro said he was initially informed of the suspected faulty welds on Sept. 24.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Nickolas Guertin wrote in a Sept. 24 memo to Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti that the nature of the procedural violations prompted HII to notify the Department of Justice. It’s unclear when HII initially discovered the problems and reported them to the Navy.
In a statement earlier this week, HII told USNI News that “upon discovery of some welders not consistently following procedures we followed our protocol and took action to communicate with our customers and regulators in a timely manner and began working the issue with the Navy.”
Del Toro has ordered additional inspections and said that the shipyard is increasing training for welders.
“While I am deeply disappointed about this failure to uphold quality on the part of the shipyard as required by contract, my top priority is ensuring the safety of our sailors and platforms and communicating transparently with the Congress and the American people,” he wrote.
