Navy building maritime surveillance center

Petty Officer 1st Class Vannarath Gowing, an operations specialist from Long Beach, Calif., looks through a set of binoculars on the bridge of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during sea and anchor detail. During the detail, Gowing is responsible for the safe navigation of the ship using lookouts and radar. Ronald Reagan is currently underway conducting operations in preparation for an upcoming deployment. (Photo by: Seaman Nicholas A. Groesch)

The Navy has awarded a $20.5 million construction contract to build a maritime surveillance center.

S.B. Ballard Construction Co. will design and build a maritime surveillance system facility at Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex, according to the Department of Defense contract announcement.

“Additionally, support spaces will include Naval Ocean Processing Facility training operations, Secure Compartmented Intelligence Facility administrative, and watch stander spaces,” the contract announcement said.

The work is expected to be completed by June 2017.