Huntington Ingalls Industries [HII] on Friday said it has laid the keel of the fifth National Security Cutter (NSC) that it is building for the Coast Guard, marking a traditional milestone in the construction of naval vessels.
The National Security Cutter James (WMSL 754) is nearly 20 percent complete. The ship is being constructed at HII’s Ingalls division in Pascagoula, Miss.
Irwin Edenzon, president of Ingalls, said the company’s “shipbuilders have done outstanding work to make us more efficient in building this ship, driving the cost down and becoming more competitive.” He also said the company is well positioned to complete the current build plan of eighth NSCs so “we’re going to see if we can get the Coast Guard interested in four more.”
HII recently received a contract from the Coast Guard for the sixth NSC. The Coast Guard is seeking funds in FY ’14 for construction of the seventh ship and long-lead materials funding for the eighth vessel.
So far, three NSCs have been delivered to the Coast Guard. The fourth NSC, the Hamilton (WMSL 753), will be christened on Oct. 26.