2.01 Amend 0011 LETTER-130-0008-26.pdf

This is a notification letter from the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) to Sasebo Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (SSK) regarding reinstatement of their thin wall socket welding program for U.S. Naval Vessels.

SSK's thin wall socket welding program (sockets with pipe wall thickness less than 3/16 inch) is reinstated effective upon receipt of this letter dated August 31, 2026. The reinstatement extends to six contractors that delegate welding program management to SSK: Hosei Co., Ltd.; Yamaguchi Machinery Co., Ltd.; Ito Iron Works & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.; Toyo Trust Tokki Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Maritime Systems Co., Ltd.; and Shinko Co., Ltd. SSK adequately addressed SRF-JRMC's prior concerns through corrective actions documented in five enclosures, including a nonconformity and corrective action record, WPQR confirmation checklist, welding instruction lists with NDT reports (covering January 2023 to December 2025), and two education and training implementation records. SRF-JRMC's evaluation confirmed SSK's ability to identify and correct nonconformities, independently audit previously approved welding procedures, evaluate risk associated with unqualified procedures, and communicate audit results. SRF-JRMC acknowledges SSK identified sixteen additional welding procedures with nonconformances requiring adjudication and notes that SSK is addressing these issues while minimizing waterfront impact, with SRF-JRMC's Sasebo Quality Assurance and Welding Engineering continuing oversight. The letter clarifies that reinstatement does not authorize changes to any government contract terms, conditions, delivery schedule, or price.