Virginia Ship Repair Association

10/01/2026

🎃 Happy October, VSRA Members! 👻

Spooky season is officially here, and it's time to trade in those hard hats and safety vests for capes, masks, and Halloween spirit! Today marks the launch of the FIRST-EVER VSRA Halloween Costume Contest, and we are laying down the gauntlet to see which member company brings their absolute best Halloween A-game.

Who will claim the ultimate bragging rights (and the gift cards) this year? We challenge all of our member companies to stir up some friendly competition! Whether you are flying solo or assembling a spectacular group ensemble with your department, we want to see your creativity shine.

🏆 The Prizes:
1st Place: $100 Dining Gift Card
2nd Place: $50 Dining Gift Card
3rd Place: $25 Dining Gift Card

📅 The Details:
Who: ANY employee(s) of a VSRA Member Company
When: Submissions are open NOW until November 2nd at 4:00 PM!
How: Send your costume photo or a link to your company’s social media post to [email protected] (please submit from your company email).

For the complete rules and details, check out the attached Halloween Costume Contest Flyers.png and visit our website: VirginiaShipRepair.org/CostumeContest.aspx

Let the Halloween festivities—and the inter-company rivalries—begin! 🎃🏆👻

09/30/2026

Three years of continuous Middle East operations are fundamentally shifting how the U.S. Navy approaches fleet sustainment, logistics, and maintenance.

A recent report from USNI News explores the heavy operational tempo sustaining nearly four carrier strike groups' worth of destroyers in the weapon engagement zone, and the resulting maintenance wave heading back to private shipyards. The feature highlights crucial insights from Navy leadership alongside VSRA President John Polowczyk on the critical balance between operational readiness and workload predictability across our ship repair industrial base.

Read the full analysis:

This post has been updated to include that BAE Jacksonville received a $70 million maintenance availability for the Littoral Combat Ship USS Wichita (LCS-13). VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran is morphing how the Navy fixes and supplies ships operating thousands of miles fr...

09/30/2026

Something new is coming to the VSRA office....

09/29/2026

Get off the yard and into the arena! 🚢👷‍♂️

The VSRA 30th Annual Safety & Health Seminar isn't your standard safety briefing. We’re taking over the Chartway Arena at Old Dominion University for a high-energy day of dynamic presentations, hands-on activities, and a massive interactive Expo featuring the latest gear and services.

Deckplate crews: Tell your supervisors you want in on the action!
Managers: Invest in your frontline leaders. Take advantage of the 10% discount when you register a crew of 5 or more.

🗓️ Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Check-in at 7:00 AM)
📍 Location: Ted Constant Convocation Center, Chartway Arena, ODU
🎟️ Cost: $85 for VSRA Members | $150 for Non-Members
🚨 Deadline to Register: Friday, October 16

Note: Registrations are invoiced directly to your company—no payment due at checkout!

Secure your crew's spots today at https://www.virginiashiprepair.org/Event/2268/30th-Annual-Safety-Health-Seminar!

09/29/2026

"China built more ships last year than the U.S. has built cumulatively since the end of the Second World War."

In this clip from Episode 15 of Ship Repair Radio, host John Polowczyk and Hampton Roads Alliance CEO Doug Smith discuss the stark reality facing domestic shipbuilding and repair.

Industry leaders describe our current era as a "1939 moment"—an inflection point where rebuilding maritime supply chains, scaling the defense trades workforce, and returning manufacturing to American yards are critical priorities for national defense.

A special thank you to our episode sponsors, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Tidewater Staffing, for supporting our regional industrial base and making these conversations possible.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kddKYWBB1e4

09/28/2026

What does it take to secure a $700 million subsea cable facility and remain the #1 per capita region for defense spending in the U.S.?

This week on Ship Repair Radio, Doug Smith from the Hampton Roads Alliance sits down with John Polowczyk to talk about the reality of the U.S. vs. China shipbuilding gap, the region’s D.E.A.L. economic playbook, and the upcoming Ironclad Maritime Summit. Doug delivers a clear message: Hampton Roads is ready to lead the charge in modernizing the maritime supply chain.

Thank you to our incredible sponsors, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Tidewater Staffing, for supporting our maritime ecosystem and this podcast.

Stream it now!
▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/kddKYWBB1e4

In this episode of Ship Repair Radio, host John Polowczyk sits down...

09/21/2026

Do we have a workforce problem, or a workload problem on the waterfront? ⚓

In this clip from Episode 14 of Ship Repair Radio, Rear Admiral Dan Lannamann delivers a grounded, empathetic look at the reality our tradespeople face every day. The truth is, the industry has plenty of hardworking men and women ready to do the job—but when artisans are forced to stand by waiting on paperwork, a missing part, a tag-out, or a sudden mid-job design change, it crushes momentum.

As the Admiral notes, "process friction" is a massive barrier to readiness, and empowering the deck plate starts with establishing predictable, stable workloads.

🎙️ Catch the full conversation on the depot maintenance dilemma here:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/mRAql2fvk_I
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033F5IYE19Xf0ZD4mZNgiV?si=721057db990145d1
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vsra-ship-repair-radio/id6784696060

09/21/2026

🎙️ OUT NOW: The Depot Maintenance Dilemma ⚓

Episode 14 of Ship Repair Radio just dropped! This week, we are joined by Rear Admiral Dan Lannamann, Commander of the Navy Regional Maintenance Center, to talk about what it really takes to keep our surface fleet ready for tasking.

From the massive success of cutting Navy maintenance delays by almost a third, to the deck plate realities of "process friction" and waiting on paperwork, this episode covers the true hurdles our tradespeople face every day. Admiral Lannamann brings incredible insight into how "pulling left" and "world-class planning" can completely reshape our repair schedules.

A massive shoutout to our sponsors, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Tidewater Staffing, for powering the region's maritime training system!

09/18/2026

A huge thank you to our incredible members and sponsors for making the 40th Annual VSRF Golf Tournament a massive success! There’s a reason this event consistently sells out in minutes: our community's dedication to supporting one another is unmatched.

Every swing and sponsorship plays a vital role in raising funds for VSRF educational initiatives. Because of your continued support, we can keep advancing the industry and training both seasoned and new yard professionals year-round.

We had an outstanding time out on the greens at Cypress Point enjoying the camaraderie and competition.

📸 VSRA Members: Keep a close eye on your inbox! We will be sending out a dedicated email blast very soon featuring the complete photo gallery from the tournament. And if you have any additional photos from the event you're willing to share, please email our staff!

Thank you for another fantastic year!

09/18/2026

Get ready for a critical conversation on the waterfront's biggest challenges! ⚓️

On the next episode of Ship Repair Radio, host John Polowczyk sits down with Rear Admiral Dan Lannamann, Commander of the Navy Regional Maintenance Center, to tackle the operational and administrative realities of ship maintenance.

They are diving straight into the depot maintenance dilemma, exploring the tough balance between workload and workforce, the push for world-class planning to eliminate unplanned work, and the strategic outlook for funding as we work to reset the force. If you want to know how we are going to get our surface fleet in and out of the yards on time, this is a must-listen.

🎙️ The episode drops Monday at 8 AM! Catch it on your favorite platform:
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXgMKFn7KX6Y
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033F5IYE19Xf0ZD4mZNgiV?si=721057db990145d1
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vsra-ship-repair-radio/id6784696060
🎵 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b77ad4c7-bb78-4952-bec1-4597d5d4ce10/vsra-ship-repair-radio

A massive thank you to our sponsors, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Tidewater Staffing, for powering these vital industry conversations.