Smart Ship Repair Act of 2023

HR 4526, the Smart Ship Repair Act of 2023, requires the Navy to prioritize private shipyards for non-nuclear surface ship maintenance by restricting government-operated drydocks from competing unless private sector capacity is insufficient. It mandates a study to assess whether Navy ship repair pricing differentials (for government drydocks, inter-port, and pier costs) reflect true market value. The bill also requires the Navy to submit annual reports detailing instances where government drydocks were used instead of private facilities and to report on policies for coastwide bids for long-term repairs. These provisions directly affect Navy ship maintenance contracting and private shipyard competition. The law aims to improve cost transparency and competition in ship repair contracts through data collection and reporting.