KITTERY, Maine (AP) – The new head of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard says the future is bright for the Kittery, Maine, facility.

Navy Capt. L. Bryant Fuller III tells the Portsmouth Herald the yard is booming.

Plans are under way to hire 100 new workers, $120 million in construction projects are planned or under way and the first Virginia class submarine is due at the base for overhaul next fall.

Fuller says the best years are ahead of the yard, which currently employs about 4,400 people. In the last two years the yard has hired about 500 workers.

Fuller says the yard will play an ongoing role maintaining some of the Navy’s 313 vessels.

He says younger workers who are comfortable with high technology will help the yard meet the future.

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Information from: Portsmouth Herald, http://www.seacoastonline.com