Mills Marine & Ship Repair, the first African American owned ship repair company in the nation, expands operations in Portsmouth, VA

Portsmouth, VA – February 13, 2024 – Mills Marine & Ship Repair, a leading name in maritime services, proudly announces the grand opening of its fabrication facility and training center in Portsmouth, Virginia. This 1.24-acre property is set to be commissioned on February 22, 2024, marking a significant milestone for the company.

The fabrication and training facility underscores Mills Marine & Ship Repair's commitment to excellence, innovation, and the continuous development of its workforce. With a focus on enhancing skills, and promoting safety, the fully equipped training facility supports maritime industrial training requirements.

Key features of the new training facility include two separate training classrooms, 4 fully equipped welding booths, lagging mockup, pipefitting mockup, hand tool mockup, and entry/egress mockup.

The fabrication facility is capable of manufacturing small piece parts and welding to industry standards. Additionally, there is 48,000 sqft of external laydown area available.

The grand opening ceremony on February 22, 2024, will be attended by industry partners and local officials. The event will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony, facility tours, and refreshments.

"We are thrilled to open this fabrication and training facility, which reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in the maritime industry," said Donald Mills, President of Mills Marine & Ship Repair. "This facility will serve as a hub for skill development, knowledge enhancement, and innovation, ensuring that our workforce remains at the forefront of the maritime sector."

Mills Marine & Ship Repair invites members of the media and industry professionals to join in celebrating the grand opening of this new facility. For more information or to RSVP for the event, please contact 757-994-7391.