Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is reaffirming his commitment to build enough Navy ships to maintain the industrial base at the nation’s shipyards.

Mabus toured Bath Iron Works on Monday morning and planned to visit the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery in the afternoon.

Mabus, who became the latest Navy secretary just last month, said he is committed to having enough Navy ships built to maintain the Navy’s shipbuilding infrastructure at BIW and Ingalls shipyard in his home state of Mississippi.

Mabus’ visit to Maine comes less than a month after Defense Secretary Robert Gates paid a visit to BIW.