US National Security Cutter Stone (WMSL 758) Christened at Ingalls Shipbuilding.

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division hosted the christening ceremony of the U.S. Coast Guard’s ninth Legend-class national security cutter (NSC), the future USCGC Stone (WMSL-758), at its facility in Pascagoula, Mississippi on Feb. 29.

US National Security Cutter Stone (WMSL 758) (Picture source: Huntington Ingalls Industries)

The ship honors Coast Guard officer Cmdr. Elmer “Archie” Fowler Stone, who made history in 1919 for being one of the two Coast Guard pilots to successfully make the first transatlantic flight in a Navy seaplane. Stone’s great niece, Laura Cavallo, officially christened the ship.

“Today we celebrate the time and talents our shipbuilders have invested in this incredible ship,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said. “The success of the National Security Cutter program is a direct reflection of our strong partnership with the Coast Guard and the dedication and capability of a team of Ingalls shipbuilders that continues to successfully deliver some of the most challenging manufacturing projects in the world.”

Event speakers on behalf of the Coast Guard include Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz and Vice Commandant Adm. Charles Ray.

“Over the last four years, we as a Coast Guard have interdicted 2 million pounds of illicit drugs,” Schultz said. “These modern cutters allow our nation to advance all of our national interests, and the success wouldn’t be possible without the partnership that we find right here in Pascagoula with HII.”

“I visited Stone before she was in the water last year, and I talked to some of the shipbuilders,” Ray said. “You could tell that they weren’t just building a ship, they were building a Coast Guard cutter. They were building a ship that was going to do the deeds our nation needed them to do.”

Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Steven Palazzo joined Ingalls to celebrate the ship christening.

“We are here with a company, Ingalls Shipbuilding, that believes in its more than 11,000 workers, invests in state-of-the-art safety methods and has a corporate philosophy that relies on its own workers to develop better productivity techniques,” Wicker said. “When we see the capabilities of our Coast Guard today, we are amazed and truly impressed that we stand on the shoulders of Elmer Stone. We are gleaming and beaming today and we are glad to honor the memory of this great American.”

“National Security Cutters like Stone behind me have been game-changers in the Coast Guard in their fight against criminal organizations responsible for the smuggling of hard narcotics into America. Personally, I think Senator Wicker would agree with me that we need more National Security Cutters, not less,” Palazzo said.

The Legend-class NSC is the largest, most technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard’s fleet which enables it to meet the high demands required for maritime and homeland security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection and national defense missions. NSCs are 418 feet long with a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120.