Navy gets new floating dry dock, the first of its kind in 40 years

The U.S. Navy has a new floating dry dock to repair and maintain a variety of ships.

On July 28, Austal USA launched the Navy’s Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (AFDM) 15.

AFDM 15 is the first dry dock of its kind built in more than four decades. It also holds the record for the largest vessel ever launched into the Mobile Channel.

“The successful launch of AFDM 15 is a proud moment for everyone at Austal USA and a remarkable achievement for our entire team,” Austal USA President Gene Miller said in a company press release.

The AFDM 15 weighs 12,000 tons and is nearly 700 feet long. Its deck working area covers more than 90,000 square feet. This mammoth of a ship is designed specifically to facilitate better and faster repairs for the fleet.

“This launch reflects the incredible capability we have right here on the Gulf Coast. We are grateful for the strong partnerships with the Navy and our industry partners that made this milestone possible, and we look forward to delivering a world-class asset that will serve the fleet for decades to come,” Miller stated.

AFDM 15 is a “Rennie”-type floating dry dock with continuous wing walls on its flanks and several sectional pontoons to provide the stability and displacement required to lift and submerge vessels from the water using buoyancy.

Since ancient times, ship repairs normally require dry docks.

Maintainers pull the damaged or old vessel from sea into the dry dock. Then, they secure the vessel in special infrastructure, allowing technicians to view and repair any damage.

Although there is some maintenance or repairs that can happen without a dry dock – work inside the ship, for example – the most serious repairs require one. The addition of AFDM 15 to the fleet will increase the repair and availability rate of guided-missile cruisers and destroyers, littoral combat ships, and other types of vessels.

The Navy surface combatant fleet

The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) pulls into the floating submarine dry dock ARCO (ARDM 5) onboard Naval Base Point Loma, Oct. 24, 2024, for a regularly scheduled maintenance period. ( (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron T. Smith)

The new dry dock will directly support the Navy’s surface combatant fleet. These are the guided-missile cruisers and destroyers (and soon frigates) that patrol the world’s oceans, providing assistance and reassurance to allies, supporting combat operations when necessary, and deterring malicious activities by adversaries.

Although aircraft carriers and submarines might be drawn more attention, especially for recruiting purposes, the surface combatant fleet forms the Navy’s backbone.

It is comprised of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers.

Currently, there are approximately seven cruisers remaining active, with several recently receiving modernization upgrades to remain in service at least until 2030.

In terms of destroyers, the Navy has approximately 75 ships (73 Arleigh Burke-class and two Zumwalt-class).

Cruisers are larger than destroyers and pack more munitions. Both Ticonderoga-class and Arleigh Burke-class can conduct air defense, anti-ship warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and land-attack operations.

Feature Image: The AFDM 15, the Navy’s newest auxiliary, floating, dry dock medium, launched, July 30, 2026. (Austal USA)

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