The first Zumwalt-class DDG-1000 destroyer has completed its crew certification and was scheduled the afternoon of Sept. 7 to leave General Dynamics [GD] Bath Iron Works in Maine, where it was built, according to the Navy.

The stealthy, guided-missile ship will take part in at-sea training exercises and make port visits before having its commissioning ceremony Oct. 15 in Baltimore. The vessel will later head to its homeport at Naval Base San Diego.

An artist rendering of the Zumwalt class destroyer DDG 1000, a new class of multi-mission U.S. Navy surface combatant ship. Photo: U.S. Navy.
An artist rendering of the Zumwalt class destroyer DDG 1000, a new class of multi-mission U.S. Navy surface combatant ship. Photo: U.S. Navy.

The ship is one of three Zumwalt-class destroyers that General Dynamics is slated to provide to the Navy. The other two — DDG-1001 and DDG-1002 — are under construction.

The Navy once hoped to buy 32 DDG-1000s but cut the planned buy due to cost overruns. It is expanding its fleet of DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers instead.