Navy Homeports: Status of the Navy's New Homeport at Everett, Washington

摘要

In the early 1980s, the Navy planned to expand the number of homeports to helpaccommodate the expected fleet expansion to 600 ships. In 1984, the Navy selected Everett as a site for one of the new homeports. Because of land constraints at the Everett waterfront site and the closure of the naval station at Sand Point, the Everett homeport will consist of two sites. The main site of 117 acres will house the ships and the facilities necessary to provide ship berthing capabilities and waterfront support, supply and maintenance support, and installation and personnel support. The second site will consist of about 60 acres and will be located about 10 miles from the main site. It will have various morale, welfare, and recreational facilities, such as a commissary/exchange, an auto hobby shop, and a chapel. In 1991, we reported on the status of all of the new homeports, including Everett, and recommended that they be terminated because the existing homeports could accommodate the Navy's fleet, most of the objectives of the strategic homeporting program would not be fulfilled, and fiscal realities required reductions in the defense budget. However, our recommendation was not adapted, and the Navy is proceeding with the development of the new homeports. A complete list of our prior reports and testimonies on homeporting is contained on the last page of this report.