Ominous submarine portents - Part 3: Hints from (NCIS) Reward Amounts

July 15, 2012 - KITTERY, Maine - NCIS offers reward for shipyard fire information
A $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest in connection with a fire at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in June, according to a news report from WMUR. ... The small fire in the dry dock June 16 was quickly extinguished. The NCIS, according to WMUR, said it's also seeking information about a fire alarm activated in the same area June 19.

Reward Amount Comparison:

October 05, 2009 - (NCIS) Far East field office - NCIS Offers Cash Reward
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Far East field office wants to get the word out about rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of people who commit or conspire to commit espionage. The rewards can run as high as $500,000. The program is designed to make the public aware that spies target Naval personnel, and that espionage is a real and dangerous threat.

April 21, 2007 - CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa - NCIS offers reward in Marine's Mugging
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information concerning the brutal beating of a 20-year-old Marine in an Okinawa City club district March 31.

Tentative Conclusions:

1. Espionage is probably NOT suspected in the earlier, catastrophic USS Miami (SSN-775) fire
2. Union (organized labor) dispute probably may be involved [e.g. overtime availibility, working condition dispute].
3. A personal issue (disgruntled employee, sailor) may now be suspected.
4. Arson still be suspected.

Former Speculation Updated:

Ominous submarine portents - Part 1

a) the cleaning subcontract had been awarded to minority-owned company with political connections and little if any shipyard, much less submarine, experience; or,

b) one of the last persons operating the vacuum at the time and in the space of the fire's inception was a minority, an arsonist, an agent of an unfriendly government with a point to make, or an Islamist fascist, whom the government has been habitually loath to identify as such but eager to say "acted alone".

Submarines are always silent and strange.