BROCK VERGAKIS
Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The Navy has been given the green light to begin consolidating its transportation arm’s headquarters.

The Navy said Thursday it will move hundreds of Military Sealift Command staff from the Washington Navy Yard to Naval Station Norfolk.

The command’s headquarters has been split between the two locations since 2012. The command is in charge of about 110 civilian-crewed ships around the world, including two hospital ships that have responded to natural disasters, among other things. The move will affect more than 500 people and cost about $30 million over the next five years.

The Navy says a small number of staff will remain behind in Washington, but exact numbers were not readily available.

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