The fourth Coast Guard National Security Cutter, the Hamilton (WMSL-753), has successfully completed customer acceptance trials, clearing the final hurdle on the path to delivery next month of the cutter to the Coast Guard by shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII], the service said on Monday.

During the trials, the United States Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspected the ship’s systems, tested its equipment, examined the quality of construction, and evaluated cutter performance and compliance against contractual specifications to identify any important deficiencies that need to be corrected before the scheduled delivery in mid-September.

National Security Cutter Hamilton at sea in the Gulf of Mexico during customer acceptance trials on Aug. 13. Photo: Coast Guard
National Security Cutter Hamilton at sea in the Gulf of Mexico during customer acceptance trials on Aug. 13. Photo: Coast Guard

The trials included two days of sea going in the Gulf of Mexico and inspections at HII’s Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

Hamilton’s acceptance trials demonstrate that Ingalls shipyard has built a superb ship that will endure for many decades,” Capt. Douglas Fears, prospective commanding officer of the Hamilton, said in a statement.

Before the Hamilton is delivered, the Navy Board of Inspection and Survey will make a formal recommendation to the Coast Guard on accepting the cutter. The service will work with HII to correct any of the vessel’s deficiencies.

The Hamilton will be homeported in Charleston, S.C. The Coast Guard plans to acquire eight NSCs.

Separately, HII on Aug. 16 said the fifth NSC, the James (WMSL-754) was christened at the Ingalls shipyard. The James is scheduled to be delivered to the Coast Guard next summer.