Ingalls Awarded $487 Million to Build USCG Cutter

Huntington Ingalls Industries announced today that the U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a $487 million, fixed-price-incentive-fee contract to its Ingalls Shipbuilding division to build the sixth National Security Cutter, Munro (WMSL 755).

NSCs, the flagships of the Coast Guard's cutter fleet, were designed to replace the 378‐foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, which entered service during the 1960s. Ingalls has delivered the first three. The fourth, Hamilton (WMSL 753), currently at 40% complete, is scheduled to launch this summer and will be christened in October.

Keel-laying for the fifth NSC, James (WMSL 754), is set for May 17. The ship is currently 17% complete and will launch in the spring of 2014. A long-lead material contract for Munro was awarded in 2012, and all associated equipment has been ordered.

Ingalls builds, integrates and tests the NSC hull, mechanical and electrical (HME) systems, while Lockheed Martin provides the command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities onboard the cutters.

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.

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