NAVFAC Far East awarded a $4.6 million contract Sept. 14 to overhaul caissons at three historic dry docks on board Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka, Japan.

The 10 meter-tall, 278-ton caissons are used to pump and hold water out of a dry dock to allow for ship repairs.

"With the U.S. rebalance to the Pacific, it is imperative the infrastructure is in place to support the forward deployed ships of the U.S. Navy Seventh Fleet," said Public Works Officer Cmdr. Ben Miller, Public Works Department (PWD) Yokosuka. "This caisson project is one of many efforts where Fleet Activities Yokosuka is improving waterfront and ship repair facilities to ensure our installation is positioned to support the mission, now and into the future."

Dry docks one, three and four are identified historical structures. One and Three were built in the 1870's. Four was built in 1905 and was the first dry dock at Yokosuka built of concrete. Each remains effective for repairing U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-defense Forces ships. This contract is for work on the caissons, not for the dry docks themselves.

Work on the caissons will include repair and repainting; replacement of flooding valves, actuators and associated piping; repair of interior upper and lower tanks; and repair of nonskid surface on top decks. Repairs will be made according to an established 10-year maintenance schedule.

NAVFAC Far East awarded the $4,629,487 contract to Sumitomo Heavy Industries, LTD. Work is expected to be finished in 2017.

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