General Dynamics Electric Boat has taken delivery of the Atlas floating dry dock, a purpose-built facility that will support the assembly and testing of the US Navy’s Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. The acceptance marks a key milestone in expanding shipyard infrastructure for one of the navy’s most critical modernization programs.
The dock will be based at Electric Boat’s Groton, Connecticut, shipyard, where it will serve as a mobile platform capable of moving between facilities to receive submarines as they progress through construction and testing. Built by Bollinger Shipyards and christened in October 2025, Atlas will also host ceremonial events such as first water contact, a major milestone in submarine production.
Designed to accommodate the next-generation nuclear-powered SSBNs, the floating dry dock spans 618 feet long, 140 feet wide, and 90 feet high. Its arrival supports the Columbia-class program, which began in 2020 to replace the navy’s Ohio-class submarines, many of which date back to the 1980s.
The Columbia program calls for 12 submarines, with General Dynamics serving as prime contractor. The first two boats are expected to be commissioned by 2031, while production acceleration continues under a $2.28-billion contract awarded in late 2025. Once operational, the Columbia-class fleet will form the backbone of the United States’ sea-based nuclear deterrent for decades to come.
