While underway, Ingalls' test and trials team conducted
extensive testing of the propulsion, anchor handling, steering and combat
systems. The testing culminated in the successful completion of a full-power
propulsion run.
"The Ingalls/Coast Guard team had the ship prepared for an extensive
two days of testing," said Richard Schenk, Ingalls' vice president,
program management and test and trials. "Our operating crew showed
the utmost professionalism in every aspect of duties during our underway
time. The ship is ready to enter the service and start performing
key Coast Guard missions."
Ingalls has delivered three NSCs, and three more are currently under
construction. A seventh NSC, Kimball WMSL 756, is scheduled to begin
construction in early 2015. Hamilton is scheduled to be delivered
next month and commissioned on Dec. 6 in Charleston, S.C.
"Hamilton's acceptance trials demonstrated that Ingalls Shipbuilding
has built a superb ship that will endure for many decades," said
Capt. Douglas Fears, prospective commanding officer of Hamilton. "The
exceptional craftsmanship in Hamilton will soon be met by the extremely
talented Coast Guard men and women that will breathe life into this
great ship. We are very excited to get Hamilton to sea and make the
cutter's new home in Charleston."
Derek Murphy, Ingalls' NSC program director, said, "I couldn't
be more proud of the men and women who over the last three years brought
Hamilton from steel plate to the ship she is today—the most
successful NSC yet. It was an amazing transformation carried to fruition
by our dedicated and skilled shipbuilders. Over the next few weeks
we'll be completing the small amount of work we have remaining and
transitioning the ship over to the Coast Guard crew who is more than
ready to take possession."
NSCs are 418 feet long with a 54-foot beam, displacing 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 and national
security mission needs required of the high-endurance cutter, including
new requirements in support of Arctic exploration. The cutter 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 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.
