Shipyard security wasted $21M on gear, vehicles

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (AP) ― U.S. Navy investigators say security personnel at a public shipyard in Virginia created an unauthorized police force that wasted up to $21 million on equipment, manpower and vehicles that included a high-speed boat.

The Navy released a 2014 report on Oct. 24 that detailed 12 years of mismanagement at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth following a request from The Associated Press.

Federal News Radio first wrote about the report in August.

The shipyard is one of four public facilities that services the Navy’s fleet. The mismanagement of funds began amid security concerns that grew from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Alan Baribeau, a Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman, said in an email that the Navy has taken actions to correct the inappropriate conduct and provide more oversight of shipyard security.