Navy's senior chief lauds BIW on shipyard visit

Courtesy / Office of U.S. Sen. Susan Collins Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, speaks to sailors and BIW workers Monday, joined here by U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins.

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By Staff

The Navy’s highest-ranking military officer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, toured Bath Iron Works on Monday and provided some reassurance of the yard’s place in national defense production.

“One of the most important reasons I am in Maine today is to ensure every person here knows their work is critically important to our Navy,” Gilday said. “DDGs [destroyers] are the workhorse of our fleet, and simply put, you can’t get to the fight if you don’t have ships to sail there. To the entire workforce here at Bath Iron Works who are responsible for helping us generate warfighting readiness, you have my profound thanks.”

Gilday was joined on the tour by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine 2nd District. In addition to seeing BIW facilities, the delegation went aboard the USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118).

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, now undergoing sea trials, was completed last fall and in December was the first BIW ship to head down the Kennebec River in two years.

The delegation also visited the BIW Training Academy, where the shipbuilder prepares new workers to become pipefitters, welders and tinsmiths.