PASCAGOULA, Miss., May 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced today the start of fabrication of Legend-class national security cutter Friedman (WMSL 760). The start of fabrication signifies the first 100 tons of steel have been cut.
“Our workforce has invested more than a decade of effort, creativity and resolve to make the Legend-class national security cutter production line incredibly efficient and strong,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson said. “We are pleased to achieve this milestone and will continue to look for any additional opportunity in our processes and approaches to provide the most affordable and capable ships to our customers.”
NSC 11 is named to honor Elizebeth Smith Friedman. Friedman was a code breaker during the Prohibition Era who, as a civilian, intercepted and solved coded messages from racketeers and gangs and delivered them to the Coast Guard. During World War II, she worked against German espionage communications and developed information that was critical to counterintelligence work in the Southern Hemisphere. Friedman’s work resulted in hundreds of criminal prosecutions, saved thousands of lives and laid the groundwork for the science of cryptology and the establishment of the modern day National Security Agency.Â
The Legend-class NSC is the 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.
Since 2016, Ingalls Shipbuilder Academy has helped fill the industry skills gap by providing students across the region with a strong foundation in the maritime industry. More than 200 students have successfully completed the program and more than 100 have accepted job offers at Ingalls to date.
“We are proud that these students have successfully completed Ingalls Shipbuilder Academy and have chosen to begin their careers right here in Jackson County,” said George S. Jones, Ingalls’ vice president of operations. “We are dedicated to training, teaching and mentoring these students and we look forward to seeing them on the ships and in our shops at Ingalls Shipbuilding.”
About Huntington Ingalls Industries
Huntington Ingalls Industries is America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HII’s Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HII’s Technical Solutions division supports national security missions around the globe with unmanned systems, defense and federal solutions, and nuclear and environmental services. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 41,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit:
- HII on the web: HII.com
- HII on Facebook: facebook.com/TeamHII
- HII on X: x.com/WeAreHII
- HII on Instagram: instagram.com/WeAreHII
NSC 11 Start of Fabrication
Ingalls shipbuilder Jason Jackson starts fabrication of steel for the newest Legend-class national security cutter Friedman (WMSL 760). Also pictured, from left, are Cmdr. Christopher Lavin, acting commanding officer, PRO Gulf Coast; Amanda Whitaker, Ingalls NSC ship integration manager; and Dianna Genton and Braxton Collins, Ingalls hull superintendents. Photo by Derek Fountain/HII
May 12, 2021
