Utah (SSN 801) Christening Ceremony

I was honored to attend the christening of the USS Utah last week. This larger-than-life vessel is a true testament to the craftsmanship and precision of our workforce here in southeastern Connecticut—second to none.

Here’s how the ship comes together: At Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility, submarine hull sections—known as modules—are fabricated and outfitted. Some modules are built by Newport News Shipbuilding and shipped by barge to the Groton shipyard.

In Groton, workers weld the circular modules to form the submarine’s pressure hull, and the boat undergoes shipwide testing. It then enters the water in a procedure called “float off,” departing from the flooded dock. Following additional tests by Electric Boat and the Navy, the submarine is prepared for sea trials. Once all trials are complete, the ship is delivered, commissioned, and placed into service with the U.S. Navy.

This work is made possible by 24,000 dedicated employees. With a team that large, a wide range of skills and trades are represented, including engineering, design, welding, electrical, rigging, and more.

The Utah is the 28th Virginia class submarine. It is 277 feet long and displaces approximately 7,835 tons. The ship carries Tomahawk land attack missiles and a crew of roughly 130 to 135.

This project began with the naming ceremony in January 2016. Construction on Utah started in September 2018, and the keel was laid in 2021. The pressure hull was completed in December 2024—when Utah truly came to life.

Senator Lee put it well, invoking Theodore Roosevelt: “Speak softly and carry a big stick—and this, the USS Utah, is our big stick.”

God bless the crew of Utah—fair winds and following seas!