USS Pasadena Placed in Dry Dock for Major Renovations

Workers build a dry dock to house the USS Pasadena during renovations in September of 2020. (Credit: Shelby West/Norfolk Naval Shipyard)

The nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine that bears Pasadena’s name can be seen from a rare perspective, above the waterline, as crews at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia have placed the vessel into dry dock, the U.S. Navy announced Thursday.

The USS Pasadena arrived at the shipyard in late-September to undergo a major overhaul, according to the Navy.

In order to keep the project on schedule, crews at the shipyard “took it upon themselves to support the unprecedented and start the dry dock build for USS Pasadena (SSN 752) while USS San Francisco (SSN 711) was still in dock to keep things on schedule,” according to a statement issued by Naval Sea Systems Command. “Successfully achieving this task required both collaboration and creativity.”

The submarine is the third naval vessel to carry the name of the City of Roses, Navy officials said. It’s tasked with missions including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and strike warfare.

More information about the USS Pasadena and its history is available online at csp.navy.mil/pasadena/About.