HII acknowledges welding shortcuts on carriers and submarines as lawmakers investigate

HII's Newport News Shipbuilding acknowledged it found issues with welds on aircraft carriers and submarines. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

HII confirmed on 27 September that it found and reported welding issues at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) yard, which builds the nuclear-powered nation's aircraft carriers and submarines as US lawmakers announced the same day they would be investigating those issues.

“We discovered through internal reporting that some welders knowingly circumvented certain welding procedures,” NNS spokesperson Todd Corillo told Janes on 27 June.

“Based on our initial investigation, there is no indication of malicious intent,” Corillo said.

“Upon this discovery, we took action to communicate with our customers and regulators, investigate, determine root causes, bound the issue, and put in place immediate corrective actions as we work through longer-term solutions,” Corillo added.

However, US lawmakers said they are launching their own investigation into them matter.

“It is deeply concerning to learn that faulty welds may have been knowingly made to US Navy (USN) submarines and aircraft carriers,” members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces said in a statement on 27 September.

“The House Armed Services Committee is investigating how this occurred,” according to the statement, signed by US representatives Mike Rogers of Alabama, HASC chairperson; Adam Smith, HASC ranking member; Trent Kelly of Mississippi; and Joe Courtney of Connecticut.

“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 US Navy vessels against tampering,” lawmakers said. “Absolute transparency with Congress is essential.”