'This is Lorain trying to save the world:' Bartlett Maritime Corp. founder explains dry dock project

LORAIN — Ed Bartlett looked all along Ohio's coastline before settling on Lorain for a naval dry dock. When asked why Monday at a City Council committee meeting, he pointed to the city's potential sites — many brownfields left from the city's industrial past — its welcoming environment and heritage of American Ship Building Company. Bartlett, a former Navy captain and founder of Bartlett Maritime Corp., gave an overview of his proposal to build two submarine dry docks in the International City and a depot in Lordstown. "This isn't Lorain against the world, this is Lorain trying to save the world," he said. The multimillion-dollar project ultimately needs approval from the Navy to move forward but has garnered support from local congressional leaders, state officials, national AFL-CIO union, and could get a resolution from Lorain City Council next Monday. If approved, the project could bring 3,000 to 4,000 permanent jobs to the city, with another 1,000 coming to Lordstown. A 2018 U.S. Government Accountability Office report noted submarines sat idle for more than 10,000 days as a result of maintenance delays in getting in and out of the available shipyards in the country. That report was a catalyst, he said — while he should be retired, he decided to solve the problem. The need for a shipyard is personal, Bartlett said. He's backed the venture with millions of his own money to build what he hopes to be the most modern shipyard on a site in Lorain to remedy a backlog in submarine overhaul capabilities between the other shipyards available in the U.S., he said. He plans to finance the project with the help of entities like the Lorain Port Authority and will lease it to the Navy for 30 years while the rent it pays is used to pay off the bonds. Bartlett has yet to select a site in Lorain, in part because he wants to meet the Navy's needs to move the project forward, he said. Outside of the dry docks, there will be a need for housing for the two submarines' crews while in the docks and training facilities. For the sailors with families, the temporary housing could bring a boost to local schools' enrollment, he said, The ultimate project site must have rail access, water access and be the correct elevation to accommodate the 50- to 60-acre indoor dry dock, he said. It will need room for ample parking for employees, and may have a van or bus system owned or sponsored by Bartlett Maritime Corp. to bring skilled tradesmen to the area. "I'd like to see this city be the bustling boomtown I've read about," Bartlett told Council members. Bartlett's program will include job training through a partnership with Lorain County Community College. He plans to start hiring as soon as the groundbreaking –— each employee would attend a roughly 16-week course at LCCC, followed by a two- to three-year temporary assignment at an existing shipyard to get on-the-job experience. Council members applauded Bartlett's project. Rey Carrion, D-6th Ward, said it is typically the type of project members' read about going in other areas. Mitch Fallis, D-at large, asked what hurdles Bartlett anticipates to face between now and an October groundbreaking. Bartlett said the first thing it needs is support from the Navy, noting change may be difficult to accept at the bureaucratic level. From there, a site must be identified, and all state and federal EPA guidelines be followed to remediate any brownfield, he said. The permitting process could slow the project down, but if it's ultimately approved he hopes to have the dry dock up and running within three to four years. The project itself has garnered interest from groups outside Ohio. David Riley, president of Riley Power Group, drove from his headquarters in North Carolina to Lorain to speak to Council on Monday. His group is the largest welding company for Electric Boat, and is key in the maintenance of nuclear submarines and carriers, he said. His 600-mile trek was inspired by a conversation Pam Carter, D-3rd Ward, had with one of his employees, Myron Wicks — a former Lorain resident and Carter's personal friend. He didn't come with an agenda Monday, he said, just to lend his support to Bartlett's endeavor and hope his company can help get it off the ground. "I normally send someone who works for me to come do these things," he said. "I volunteered for this one out of respect for Myron and the intensity of this particular endeavor, it's going to be a hard charging, fast tracking pain in the tail to get it all done. But I think it'll definitely be worth it." Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.