General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk is the consolidation of two great ship repair yards that have operated in the Port of Hampton Roads, Virginia for more than 50 years. The former Metro Machine Corporation was founded in 1963, awarded its first Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) contract with the U.S. Navy in 1966, moved to the Ligon Street yard in 1971, and was acquired by General Dynamics NASSCO in 2011. Since its inception, the Ligon Street workforce has worked on more than 450 ships. The former Earl Industries was founded in 1985, moved to the Harper Avenue yard in 2004, and was acquired by General Dynamics NASSCO in August, 2012. The Harper Avenue workforce has been maintaining and repairing aircraft carriers and ships of the Navy's amphibious fleet, including the LPD-17 Class of amphibious transport dock ships, since 2005. NASSCO-Norfolk’s aircraft carrier business expanded to the Bremerton, Washington in the Pacific Northwest in 2014..