Huntington
Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division has started fabrication
on the U.S. Coast Guard's sixth National Security Cutter (NSC), Munro
(WMSL 755). "Our shipbuilders have a great jump start on the construction
of this ship as we have already cut and processed more than 400 tons
of steel for NSC 6," said Jim French, Ingalls' NSC program manager.
"We are seeing improved efficiencies across the board in National
Security Cutter construction as this program matures and we leverage
lessons learned from one ship to the next. The benefits of serial production
demonstrated in this program are a win-win for our Coast Guard customer
and the shipbuilder." |
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Ingalls is currently building three NSCs and has
delivered three that are serving as the flagships of the Coast Guard's
cutter fleet. An electronics light-off milestone, where the ship's electrical
system is powered up for the first time, was recently achieved on Ingalls'
fourth NSC, Hamilton (WMSL 753), and the ship will be christened on
Oct. 26. Ingalls' fifth NSC, James (WMSL 754), has over 70 percent of
its units erected and will launch in the spring of 2014. A long-lead
material contract, which allows major equipment such as the main propulsion
systems, generators and electrical switchboards to be ordered in advance,
was awarded in June for a seventh NSC.
Designed to replace the 378-foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters,
the NSCs are 418 feet long with a 54-foot beam and 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 110.
The Legend-class NSC is capable of meeting all maritime security mission
needs required of the high-endurance cutter. The NSC includes 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 U.S. Coast Guard, with robust capabilities for maritime homeland
security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection and
national defense missions. This class of cutters plays an important
role enhancing the Coast Guard's operational readiness, capacity and
effectiveness at a time when the demand for their services has never
been greater.
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