The Coast Guard and shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] on Monday said the fifth National Security Cutter (NSC) has completed acceptance trials, the last major milestone in the program before delivery on June 5.

NSC James (WMSL 754) sailing during sea trials. Photo: Huntington Ingalls Industries
NSC James (WMSL 754) sailing during sea trials. Photo: Huntington Ingalls Industries

“The highly successful completion of these acceptance trials confirms that the shipbuilding  efforts of Huntington Ingalls Industries and Coast Guard acquisitions have been outstanding,” Capt. Andrew Tiongson, prospective commander officer of the NSC James, said in a statement. Tiongson said that he and his crew will sale from HII’s shipbuilding operations out into the Gulf of Mexico and then up the Atlantic seaboard to Boston for the ship’s commissioning in early August. Afterward, the James will sail to its homeport in Charleston, S.C., by September.

The Coast Guard and the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey conducted the two days of trials in Pascagoula, Miss., and in the Gulf of Mexico. During the trials the Board of Inspection and Survey tested the propulsion, electrical, damage control, anchor handling, small boat operations and combat systems, and did a full-power propulsion run.

HII said it still has some “fit and finish issues to complete” on the James before delivery in June.

HII is building eight 418-foot Legend-class NSCs for the Coast Guard. The service awarded the company a $500 million construction contract for the eighth vessel in March.