USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams set for drydocking at Boston Ship Repair

USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK-3009). [U.S. Navy photo]

The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) reports that, in a return to the region where it was originally constructed more than four decades ago, the USNS PFC Dewayne T. Williams (T-AK 3009) is scheduled to return to Massachusetts in late spring for a planned drydocking and maintenance availability at Boston Ship Repair LLC.

Crowley Government Services, which operates the vessel under a Military Sealift Command (MSC) contract awarded the dry dock repair subcontract to Boston Ship Repair.

Originally constructed in 1985 at the historic General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division in Quincy, Mass., the USNS PFC Dwayne T, Williams represents a legacy of American shipbuilding excellence deeply rooted in the Commonwealth’s storied maritime industrial base. Its return to Massachusetts for scheduled maintenance reflects a full‑circle moment in the vessel’s operational lifecycle.

The Quincy Shipbuilding Division—formerly known as the Fore River Shipyard—was one of the most prominent and productive shipyards in the United States during the 20th century. Established in 1883, the yard built hundreds of naval and commercial vessels, including battleships, aircraft carriers, and auxiliary ships that were critical to U.S. operations during both World Wars and throughout the Cold War era. Under General Dynamics ownership, the Quincy yard remained a cornerstone of American naval shipbuilding until its closure in 1986.

The shipyard is also widely associated with the iconic “Kilroy Was Here” symbol, which originated during World War II from James J. Kilroy, a Quincy shipyard inspector who marked inspected rivets to prevent rework shortcuts—an image later adopted globally by U.S. servicemembers as a morale‑boosting symbol.

The return of the USNS PFC Dwayne T, Williams also highlights Quincy’s historic role as a center of union shipbuilding and labor organizing. Workers with the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America (IUMSWA) built the vessel and later became part of the IAM Union through a 1988 merger. Now, decades later, the ship will be repaired by members of the IAM Union, continuing that legacy.

“This project is a powerful reminder of the generations of skilled union shipbuilders in Quincy who built our nation’s maritime strength,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “If we’re serious about national and economic security, we need to reinvigorate U.S. shipbuilding and repair to the level it once was—investing in our shipyards, our workforce, and the industrial base that keeps this country strong.”

Located within Boston Harbor, Boston Ship Repair has earned a strong reputation for executing complex maintenance, repair, and overhaul availabilities for both government and commercial vessels. porting Military Sealift Command and other maritime operators.

The upcoming availability for the USNS Dewayne T. Williams includes a comprehensive scope of work designed to ensure the vessel’s continued operational readiness and long‑term service life.