Hi everyone, it’s Kevin. It’s Friday afternoon, October 9th. (podcast)
COVID case rates have been ticking up in southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island since the end of the summer. We’re seeing employees testing positive at a rate of about two to three new cases a day. In fact, today we had four new cases. Over the course of this past week, four employees in Dept. 242, who are located on the west side of Building 1 in the Groton shipyard, have tested positive for COVID-19. All had symptoms of the virus.
So we’ve been taking action to be as proactive as we can to protect all our employees, and I wanted to share that with you. To prevent further spread of the virus, we have taken the following actions:
- We have sanitized the high-touch areas in the Building 1 East Side mezzanine. This includes microwaves, refrigerators, picnic tables and ATA machines, along with the lockers/tool boxes of the individuals who tested positive as well as the lockers that were adjacent.
- Also in the Building 1 East Mezzanine, from the bridge in the middle of Building 1 down to the Department 242 office space, we have treated the area with microthermal fogging. This includes the Dept. 242 work benches, material storage area, Active Learning Center, break/brief area, lockers and restroom as well as the Department 248 lockers and break/brief area.
- In the Northwest corner of Building 1, we have sanitized the locker room and office area including the high-touch areas and lockers/tool boxes.
- We are testing all Department 242 personnel who want to be tested to determine if the cluster of positive test results are isolated to 2nd shift Department 242 personnel stationed on the East side mezzanine in Building 1 or if COVID-19 has spread to different shifts and areas of Department 242. When those results become known, we will pass on that information.
- We also moved three crews from the east mezzanine to the west mezzanine to allow for proper social distancing effective today.
- We have added additional hand sanitizing locations to both Department 242 locker rooms today.
Unfortunately, in at least one of these recent cases, an employee came to work even though they didn’t feel well. I can’t emphasize this enough – if you don’t feel well, stay home. If you think you might have COVID, you should first call your primary care provider to talk about your symptoms. You should also call your supervisor and make sure that he or she understands what you are doing. If you don’t have a primary care provider, and you’re in Connecticut, you can call 211 or visit www.211ct.org for a list of drive-up and walk-up testing sites available throughout the state at hospitals, urgent care centers and pharmacy-based testing sites. We’ll include a link in the transcript to Connecticut’s Coronavirus portal for additional information (https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus.) We’ll also include a link to Pixel by Labcorp, a site through which you can order a test online that will be shipped to your house.
If you live in Rhode Island, and believe you may have COVID, you should also start by calling your primary care provider and your supervisor. If you don’t have a PCP, the Rhode Island Department of Health has a list of testing sites and respiratory centers you can contact to set up a testing appointment (https://health.ri.gov/covid/testing/).
Bottom line, COVID is not going away anytime soon; in fact, it’s making resurgence in New London County and in southern Rhode Island. It’s up to each and every one of us to be responsible and take the necessary actions to prevent the spread of this virus. We’ve been conducting mask checks at the gates because, frankly, we saw that mask compliance was not where we needed it to be. We will continue to conduct checks throughout the shipyard, and if you’re not wearing your mask, there’s going to have to be some consequences. Please don’t be in that situation. We and our union partners are in lockstep on this.
The only options available to us right now to limit the spread of the virus are the same actions we’ve been taking since the beginning: wear a mask, properly—that means cover your nose with it; wash or sanitize your hands frequently; and maintain proper social distancing at all times. And if you feel sick, don’t come to work; please, stay home. These actions are entirely within our control, and by doing what we need to do, we’ll keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
Thanks and have a good weekend. Thanks for listening. Please stay safe; stay healthy.
Kevin
Atlas Plaque Unveiled, Honoring Plank Owners at South Yard Ceremony
Employees who have worked on Atlas, EB’s new state-of-the-art floating dry dock, gathered in the South Yard on Wednesday, Aug. 26, to unveil a new bronze plaque recognizing the contributions of its plank owners. The event celebrated the teams who helped bring Atlas from Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana to its arrival in Groton earlier this year. Atlas will play...Continue reading→
Neighbors Meet with EB to Discuss Noise, Lighting and Other Quality of Life Topics
Nearly twenty neighbors of Electric Boat’s Groton shipyard joined company leaders Aug. 25 for a community conversation focused on their quality‑of‑life concerns related to the South Yard Assembly Building (SYAB) and Atlas, the new floating dry dock. The Mayor of the City of Groton, Jill Rusk, also attended. Residents said they appreciated the chance to talk...Continue reading→
Rayha Report Ep. 26: Waterford Campus Groundbreaking
EB President Mark Rayha reports from the groundbreaking of the new Waterford Campus, where innovation, engineering and workforce development will come together to support our mission. The new facility will help train hundreds of shipbuilders daily as EB continues to grow for future production demands.
Waterford Campus Groundbreaking Marks EB’s Next Step in Innovation and Workforce Growth
Electric Boat officially broke ground Friday on the Waterford Campus, launching the transformation of the former Crystal Mall into a center for innovation, engineering and high‑tech workforce development. EB President Mark Rayha underscored how the project will reshape the way the company designs, tests and builds submarines. Innovation is the key, he said. “There’s an opportunity to...Continue reading→
Powering HeartStrong 50: Thank You, EB Teams—Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!
Thank you to our incredible EB Heart Walk teams, our community partners, and everyone who joined the American Heart Association (AHA) Torch Journey photoshoot. Your enthusiasm and dedication made this milestone truly special. Now let’s keep our HeartStrong 50 energy going—our goal is 50 teams and $50,000 raised for the 2026 AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk on October 3 at UConn Avery...Continue reading→
Speed Cameras to be Installed in the City of Groton
The City of Groton Police Department announced that automated speed enforcement cameras will be installed at several locations throughout the city. The cameras will be installed after the required 30-day public notification period, which began on Aug. 7, 2026. Camera locations: Mitchell Street Thames Street Clarence B. Sharp Highway (Route 349) Police said the purpose...Continue reading→
MDA Apprenticeship Application Now Open
Application Window: August 1, 2026 – August 31, 2026 The MDA Apprenticeship Program is a four-year initiative designed to develop a highly skilled workforce for Electric Boat. This program provides three years of on‑the‑job training alongside qualified subject matter experts, combined with classroom instruction across various technical disciplines. Participants gain advanced skills, broaden their expertise, and...Continue reading→
Building 600 Tech Stop Relocation
On Monday, August 3, 2026, Facilities will be relocating the Tech Stop currently located in Building 600 4th Floor East to its new location in Building 130-01 Classroom 7. During this time, please utilize the alternate Tech Stop location: B708 (625 Long Hill Road) Hours: Monday – Friday: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm The tech stop will resume...Continue reading→
A Message From Mark Rayha: Historic Contracts/Rayha Report
Today marks one of the most significant moments in Electric Boat’s history. As part of its $76.6 billion submarine contract announcement, the U.S. Navy has awarded Electric Boat ship construction contracts valued at $29.5 billion for five Columbia-class submarines and $42.1 billion for nine Virginia-class submarines, along with incentives for shipyard infrastructure. Click here to read the...Continue reading→
Electric Boat featured in latest episode of ‘Cast in Steel’
General Dynamics Electric Boat is featured in the latest episode of Cast in Steel, a web series that showcases the leaders of America’s steel industry as part of their competition to promote careers in metalworking. The Cast in Steel team visited our Quonset Point facility to highlight how EB’s shipbuilders transform flat steel into nuclear...Continue reading→
