New Ocean Transport Barge Arrives at Electric Boat’s Groton Shipyard
On Monday, the new ocean transport barge Holland arrived at Electric Boat’s Groton Shipyard. The barge was purpose-built to support delivery of Columbia class ballistic missile submarines. General Dynamics Electric Boat is the prime contractor on construction of the Columbia class.
The Holland was designed by Bristol Harbor Group, Inc. (BHGI) and constructed by Bollinger Shipyards, LLC, of Lockport, La. The namesake of the new barge is John Holland, the Irish-born immigrant who designed the first submarine purchased by the U.S. Navy. Holland’s design was brought to life by the shipbuilders of Electric Boat and delivered in 1900.
BHGI began working with Electric Boat engineers in 2017 to design the one-of-a-kind vessel, and Bollinger was selected to build the 400- by 100-foot barge in November 2019. The concept and contract design was performed by the Bristol Harbor Group in Rhode Island, while Bollinger performed the detail design engineering at its Lockport, La. facility and construction at the Bollinger Marine Fabrication facility in Amelia, La.
“We are happy to welcome Holland to her new home in the Groton shipyard,” said Kevin Graney, President, General Dynamics Electric Boat. “Our fellow shipbuilders at Bollinger have delivered a terrific asset, on time and on budget. Holland will play an important role in the construction of the Columbia class of submarines, which will carry nearly 70% of the nation’s nuclear arsenal.”
"Bristol Harbor Group is proud to be a part of the team that has designed and built this unique vessel which will play such critical role in constructing the next generation of American ballistic missile submarines. Solving the many unique design challenges involved demonstrates the world-class capabilities of our naval architects and marine engineers." sai d Daniel Eling, P.E., BHGI Senior Naval Architect.
“Bollinger is proud to partner with General Dynamics-Electric Boat in support of the U.S. Navy and one of the top strategic priorities of our Nation,” said Bollinger President & C.E.O. Ben Bordelon. “Being able to deliver OTB Holland on time and on budget is a testament to the strength, commitment and resilience of the men and women of the Bollinger workforce, especially following the significant damage sustained to our shipyards and communities following Hurricane Ida earlier this year. Bollinger looks forward to continuing to help meet the expanding needs of the United States’ Navy and supporting efforts to modernize our Nation’s fleet.”
The Columbia class is now being built at Electric Boat’s Quonset Point, R.I. manufacturing facility. Skilled tradespeople will construct and outfit Columbia modules at Quonset Point which will then be transported by the Holland barge to the company’s final test and assembly facility in Groton. The first Columbia module is expected to arrive in Groton in 2023.
Construction of the Columbia class, which will replace the aging Ohio class, is the nation’s top strategic defense priority. For nearly 15 years, Electric Boat has been working on plans to execute the design and construction of this crucial program. As a consequence, the Columbia class was the most complete design of any previous class of submarine at construction start in October of 2020. The company has hired and trained thousands of new skilled tradespeople, collaborated with its suppliers to prepare for the expanded demand for technical support and invested nearly $2 billion in new facilities to support construction of the Columbia class.