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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree tells workers what she has heard from Navy officials:  the submarine can likely be fixed and, if so, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard would do the work.

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree traveled to Kittery this morning to tour the USS Miami, a submarine damaged in a fire at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY), and to talk with workers at the yard about what she's heard from Navy officials on whether the ship can be repaired.

"I spoke last week with Navy Vice Admiral Kevin McCoy, who is responsible for building and supporting the Naval fleet," said Pingree. "The good news is that Navy officials at this point tell me it's unlikely the Miami will be scrapped, but we won't know for sure until the investigation is finished in the next two or three weeks. It was also great to hear that it's unlikely that the ship would be moved to another shipyard for repairs. If anyone can fix this ship, it's the men and women of Kittery. Another benefit to keeping it there is that the USS Memphis—another Los Angeles class sub—is at the shipyard waiting to be scrapped, making it easy to recover certain parts the Miami may need."

Pingree was the first official outside of the Navy to go aboard the Miami after the fire. She saw some of the ship's damage firsthand, including in the control room, with PNSY commander Capt. Bryant Fuller and USS Miami Cmdr. Roger Meyer. She also met with members of the shipyard's fire department, including one who was injured, and thanked them for their brave response at the scene.

"Being able to see what a sub is like has given me even more respect for the firefighters who risked their lives to put out the fire onboard. The submarine is narrow, dark, and hard to get around in, even without a fire onboard. It's hard to imagine what they went through," Pingree said. "After this visit, I'm also in awe of the brave men and women who serve aboard for months at a time, as well as the world-class workers who keep it running. I think they're up to the incredible challenge of repairing this ship, and I hope they get the chance to do so."