Carrier Debate: Economic
and Strategic

NORFOLK, Va -  

The Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter has a tough decision to make. He can decide it's best to move a nuclear aircraft carrier from Norfolk to Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville, FL. Winter could decide to keep all East Coast based carriers home-ported at Naval Station Norfolk.

Political considerations will be a factor. Economic realities will be acknowledged. And the strategic needs of the military carry weight.

Retired Navy Admiral Harold Gehman told WAVY.com, "The military factor is the most important, but it doesn't trump the other ones. The military factor, when you weigh all the pros and cons, probably tilts very slightly in favor of not having all of your East Coast carriers in one homeport."

Gehman offered security as his primary reason. "Certainly there's a security issue and not just terrorism. I mean there's security from natural disasters. There's security from economic disruptions and a strike or something like that," he said.

Gehman points out that Norfolk's proximity to NAS Oceana, as well as Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Newport News Shipbuilding offers efficiency in training and maintenance.

When the President of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce looks at a potential carrier move, the regional economy is a major consideration.

"Best estimates we have on the value of an individual carrier is about 11 thousand jobs, $650-million a year in impacts," Jack Hornbeck told WAVY.com.

Hornbeck said there's "a huge sucking sound" when a carrier and support ships deploy.

But Hornbeck said he's optimistic a carrier will not leave Hampton Roads, because of the price tag associated with moving one.

"There's $500-million they're going to have to spend to prepare Jacksonville for a nuclear carrier. ... A lot of things can happen between now and then."

Secretary Winter is expected to make a decision in late December.

That means the new Congress that takes office on January 20, 2009 will vote on any budget changes that come as a result of his decision.