Navy Reestablishes SIMA Mayport to Accelerate Waterfront Ship Maintenance and Sailor Self-Sufficiency

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – The U.S. Navy formally reestablished the Surface Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) Mayport today during an official ceremony on Naval Station Mayport, Florida, Sep. 15, 2026.
The reestablishment of SIMA Mayport represents a strategic shift in the Navy's maintenance posture, returning dedicated shore commands to key homeports to execute intermediate-level repairs, calibration, and technical assistance. The command's mission is to keep surface warships materially ready and operationally capable without requiring extensive, long-term shipyard dry-docking.
"The reestablishment of SIMA Mayport is a direct investment in our Fleet's readiness and our Sailors' technical proficiency," said Capt. Larry Ford, Commanding Officer of SIMA. "By bringing these specialized capabilities back to the Mayport waterfront, we are ensuring our ships can rapidly return to the operational cycle and that our crews have the troubleshooting expertise they need to sustain combat-ready power."
The re-establishment initiative follows extensive analysis from the 2025 Surface Force Readiness Review Panel, which recommended rebuilding the Navy's internal intermediate maintenance infrastructure to address modern readiness challenges.
Among the ceremony's attendees was the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, who highlighted the critical role that localized maintenance teams play in maintaining a forward-deployed, surge-capable force. SIMAs have already demonstrated their value this year; in June, sister commands at SIMA Norfolk and SIMA San Diego officially returned to the waterfront.
Adm. James Kilby, Vice Chief of Naval Operations delivered remarks as the guest speaker, emphasizing the pride and responsibility returning to the command's deckplates. "Our combat readiness is built by Sailors who know how to troubleshoot, repair, maintain, and fight their ships at sea," said Adm. Kilby. "SIMA Mayport is where we train that technical elite."
This ceremony follows the June 2026 reestablishment of West and East Coast SIMA commands: SIMA Norfolk, Virginia (reestablished June 2, 2026, under Capt. Megan Thomas) and SIMA San Diego, California (reestablished June 4, 2026, under Capt. Bill Albert).
Sailors assigned to SIMA Mayport will receive individualized training plans focused on diesel engines, electrical systems, hydraulics, and precision calibration. This focus on "hands-on" training ensures that when Sailors return to sea, they bring invaluable self-sufficiency back to their ship's engineering and combat systems departments.
Southeast Regional Maintenance Center (SERMC) provides intermediate-level maintenance, repair, technical expertise, training, and craftsmanship to the ships and Sailors of the U.S. Fleet.
Located at Naval Station Mayport, SIMA is committed to delivering operational readiness and sustaining the Atlantic Fleet's combat power.

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