NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — Newport News Shipbuilding says it’s discovered that faulty welds may have knowingly been made to submarines and aircraft carriers under construction at the shipyard.
Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin made the announcement on Friday afternoon, calling it “very serious and disappointing news.”
“Fortunately, this issue was brought to light by shipbuilders who did the right thing and came forward by either self-reporting or calling the HII OpenLine,” Boykin said. “I thank them for their honesty and bravery.”
There are still few details about the scope of the issues at this time, but USNI News reported the defective welds were made on non-critical components of the subs and carriers.
Boykin says after the shipyard investigated and confirmed the reports, they “immediately put together a team made up of both internal and independent engineering and quality subject matter experts to determine the root causes, bound the issue and put in place immediate short-term corrective actions as we work through longer-term solutions.”
NNS also notified the Navy and Department of Justice, Boykin says, and is providing regular updates for transparency.
“I cannot over stress that individual actions and behaviors either strengthen – or weaken – our ethical culture in an instant,” Boykin said. “Every choice you make as a shipbuilder has long lasting impact. Ask for help when you are unsure. And speak up if you see questionable behavior or actions by others. Speak to your supervisor or report it, 24/7, through the HII OpenLine by calling 1-877-631-0020.”
We will fix this. We will learn from it. We will come back stronger,” Boykin said.
The Navy said in a statement that it is “aware of the issue and a thorough evaluation is underway to determine the scope.”
The House Armed Services Committee also sent out a statement on Friday about the news, calling the matter “deeply concerning.”
“The House Armed Services Committee is investigating how this occurred,” the statement says. “The safety of our sailors is our top concern, and we need to immediately understand any risks associated with the faulty work. The Department of Defense needs to immediately provide our committee with answers and a plan for how they will protect U.S. Navy vessels against tampering. Absolute transparency with Congress is essential. These vessels are critical to U.S. defense in the Indo-Pacific – we must ensure that these vessels are protected against any bad actors seeking to put U.S. national security or our service members at risk.”
10 On Your Side has reached out to Newport News Shipbuilding to see what vessels may have been impacted, and if anyone was fired after the issues came to light.