Huntington Ingalls Industries' (NYSE:HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division today received an $76.5 million fixed-price contract from the Coast Guard to purchase long-lead materials for the eighth National Security Cutter, Midgett (WMSL 757). Construction and delivery of Midgett would take place at the company's Pascagoula, Miss. facility.
The 418'x54' Legend-class NSCs displace 4,500 tons with a full load. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120. They are designed to replace the 378' Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, which entered service during the 1960s.
The Legend-class NSCs include an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats and a flight deck to accommodate a range of manned and unmanned rotary wing aircraft. It is the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter in the Coast Guard, with robust capabilities for maritime homeland security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection and national defense missions.
The advance procurement funds will be used to purchase major items for Midgett, including steel, the main propulsion systems, generators,
electrical switchboards and major castings.
"The long-lead material contracts give our shipbuilders the ability to immediately start construction of the ship if and when that contract is
awarded," said Jim French, Ingalls' National Security Cutter program manager. "The advance procurement helps us get the best cost possible
for equipment and materials and keeps the industrial base production line flowing. Our learning curve continues to improve with each ship we
build, and the advance procurement helps continue that curve."
Ingalls has delivered the first three National Security Cutters. The fourth, Hamilton (WMSL 753), will have builder's sea trials later this summer. The fifth, James (WMSL 754), recently launched and will be christened in August, and the keel for the sixth NSC, Munro (WMSL 755), will be laid later this year.
