Mayport, FL has been carrier-less since the departure of the conventional powered USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in March of 2007. However, decisions are being made that will change that. From Navy Office of Information
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations & Environment, B.J. Penn, signed a Record of Decision for the Mayport Homeporting Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Jan. 14.
The Navy's decision is to implement the preferred alternative, which is to homeport a single nuclear powered aircraft carrier (CVN) at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Mayport, and to complete associated infrastructure modifications. These include dredging, infrastructure and wharf improvements, and construction of CVN nuclear propulsion plant maintenance facilities.
The Norfolk business community has petitioned numerous times to keep all the carriers in Southern Virginia, however Jacksonville, has also made it clear that they want and would support the permanent basing of a CVN in Mayport. Certainly any economy would benefit greatly by the addition of a carrier… adding 3,500 sailors and their families to a community usually boosts an economy in a hurry. But it appears, at least publically, that this decision is being made on pragmatic necessity as well as Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter makes clear:
"We have studied this issue very carefully and considered multiple factors. This allows the Navy to obtain the benefits of fleet dispersal without negatively impacting our carrier capability or operations. Homeporting a carrier in Mayport best supports the Navy's mission and safeguards our nation's security needs."
Many have been critical of placing all of the Navy’s East Carriers in one proverbial Basket, and welcome the decision to move ahead with basing one in Mayport.
Homeporting a CVN at NAVSTA Mayport reduces risks to fleet resources in the event of natural disaster, manmade calamity, or attack by foreign nations or terrorists. This includes risk to aircraft carriers, industrial support facilities, and the people that operate and maintain these crucial assets.
Mayport allows for advantages of fleet dispersal and survivability without impacting operational availability.
Especially since Mayport is equidistant to the majority of training ranges as well as being actually closer to many others. For more on the Enviromental Impact Statements go here: http://www.mayporthomeportingeis.com/
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