Hi everyone, this is Kevin. Today is Wednesday, March 24th (date recorded).
In early December of last year, we put in place a “yellow card” program in Groton to ensure employees wear their personal protection equipment. As a reminder, our safety program requires four types of PPE: hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection and face coverings or masks.
The spirit of the program is to always assume positive intent, that someone just might not be aware if he or she is not wearing the appropriate PPE. While it was challenging at the beginning of the program, the results have paid off: PPE-related injuries are down in Groton, and no yellow cards have been issued for non-compliance in the last three weeks.
We are now rolling out the compliance program at Quonset Point; here’s how it works. If an employee is not wearing the required PPE, he or she will be approached by a member of the Safety or Operations teams and asked to comply. The right response is to either say “thank you” and comply or say nothing at all and comply. The employee will receive a yellow card and his or her badge number will be noted as a means to track those who may be challenged by repeated non-compliance.
I want to emphasize that face coverings and masks will continue to be required PPE while we still confront the COVID pandemic. Let’s face it—while we are seeing reasons to believe we weathered the worst, and the numbers of cases have been trending down in our area, we all know this is not over. For this reason, I ask you to continue to stay home if you’re sick, socially distance, wear your mask and get vaccinated when you are eligible in your state.
As the COVID vaccine rollout continues in our region, we continue to request vaccines from the Departments of Health in Connecticut and Rhode Island to directly administer to employees at Groton and Quonset Point just like we do with our flu-shot clinics each year. So far, the vaccine is not yet available to us as a company. I remain committed to you that we will keep trying. Ultimately, I believe the way Governor Lamont is handling vaccine distribution here in Connecticut by age is fair because it does not result in an advantage of one group over another, and we all can readily understand that age is a significant determining factor in our ability to fight an infection of COVID.
Now, if you have received the vaccine, either your first dose, or second dose, or like me you were given the Johnson and Johnson single dose, please take a moment to let EB Medical know using the link attached to the transcript or the link on the COVID page on Homeport. This information is helping us determine how the EB team is progressing with the vaccine and will allow us to gauge how many vaccines to request from Connecticut and Rhode Island in the event we get the opportunity to administer our own.
As a reminder, people who live or work in Connecticut are eligible for the vaccine if they are 45 years or older. Starting April 5, eligibility in Connecticut will include those 16 and older, so pretty much everybody who is an adult. Rhode Island’s distribution eligibility at this time is for residents 60 and older, those over 16 with underlying health conditions, health care workers, first responders, Pre K-12 teachers, staff and licensed child-care providers. Employees who are eligible for the vaccine can make appointments through the locations made available by the states; we will provide links to the Connecticut and Rhode Island vaccine portal pages on Homeport.
Thank you for your continued compliance with our PPE rules—the goal is to keep us all safe and healthy.
Thanks everyone; we’ll talk soon.
One Week Left—Let’s Claim the Torch! AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk: Final Countdown
We are just one week away from the 2026 AHA Eastern Connecticut Heart Walk on October 3, 2026, at UConn Avery Point and this is our moment to finish strong. We’ve built incredible momentum, and now we’re within striking distance of something big. Right now, Electric Boat is holding second place, behind Mohegan Sun by...Continue reading→
803 Section 2B/5 Transported from Quonset Point to Groton
PCU Arizona’s (SSGN 803) Section 2B/5 was successfully delivered to Groton from Quonset Point. At 184 feet in length, this section – which includes the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) – is the largest Virginia-class shipment ever transported. Arizona, the first submarine to incorporate VPM, will be about 460 feet long upon final construction. Section 2B/5...Continue reading→
Remembering September 11
On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers of downtown Manhattan’s World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., were targeted in a series of coordinated attacks that would leave an everlasting imprint on our country’s psyche. As the events unfolded on that Tuesday morning, nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, over 600 were injured...Continue reading→
EBECSA Celebrates 75 Years — Nominate EB Employees Past and Present for Recognition
This year, the Electric Boat Employees’ Community Services Association (EBECSA) proudly celebrates its 75th anniversary. EBECSA was founded in 1951 by EB employees who wanted to create a dedicated, organized way to support nonprofit health and human service agencies in the communities where we live and work. What began as a small employee‑driven effort has...Continue reading→
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→
