Navy might greatly increase the time aircraft carriers can simultaneously berth at Coronado

Facing growing duties in the Pacific, the Navy is exploring the possibility of greatly increasing the amount of time Naval Air Station North Island can simultaneously host three aircraft carriers.

The base is currently allowed to have three carriers at berth at the same time for 29 days a year. A Navy study that’s just getting underway will consider boosting that to an average of 180 days annually.

The Navy says it is considering the increase because of its busy mission objectives, the need to maintain and upgrade the ships, and the eventual need to be able to berth next-generation Ford-class carriers in San Diego.

“We don’t really anticipate it being 180 days,” said Kevin Dixon, a spokesperson for Naval Base Coronado, which includes NAS North Island. “They’re just trying to take a look at a worst case scenario (for berthing) and what the impact would be.”