Navy's Berthing Facilities for Ships Undergoing Overhaul

GAO reviewed the Navy's use of berthing facilities for ships undergoing overhaul. Each year the Navy overhauls approximately 65 ships in 50 different locations. Since many of these locations do not have adequate nearby berthing and messing facilities for the crews of the ships being overhauled, the Navy must find housing for the crews. When barracks are not available, the Navy prefers to house crew members in barges because they are mobile/flexible, are self-contained, improve administrative control over crews, and provide additional overhaul needs. The Navy believes that many of its older barges do not meet habitability standards and that it will be too expensive to modify all of them. However, the Navy believes that by modifying some of the barges and by building some new ones it will be able to meet future overhaul berthing requirements.