by NAVAIR China Lake
Public Affairs Office

Operations on the Navy owned San Nicolas Island (SNI) will improve significantly as a result of a recently awarded contract. A design/build contract for a new supply pier on the island was awarded on 12 September 2002 to Nova Group, Inc. of Napa, CA for $11,500,000.

SNI is home to important test and evaluation elements of the Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR) Weapons Division. Currently, barges that bring supplies to the island are landed on the beach and are routinely delayed due to weather and sea conditions. The barge delays cause vital military testing and training on the NAVAIR Weapons Division Sea Range to slip. The new pier will significantly reduce the delays and impacts on the growing population of seals and sea lions that breed and pup in the area.

Contract Number N68711-02-C-2004 was awarded by the Southwest Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, San Diego, California, with assistance from the NAVAIR Weapons Division, and the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center.

The contract includes the design and construction of a 460 foot long pier including mooring systems and a ramp to facilitate offloading the barges. A new operations building, and transit shed for cargo are also included. The pier will be built on the southeast end of the island in an area called Daytona Beach. Design is underway, with construction expected to be complete in Spring 2004.

NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR ensures the American warfighter will . . . Reign Supreme – Return in Glory.

For more information about the Naval Air Systems Command, go to www.navair.navy.mil.