Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division kicked off its 130th anniversary celebration January 28.
Newport News, the sole designer, builder and refueler of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S. Navy submarines, will celebrate the anniversary throughout 2016 with commemorative videos and employee publications. More than 100 local businesses, museums, schools and civic leaders provided congratulatory video messages that will be released each week throughout the year.
“As shipbuilders, we are privileged to be part of the storied legacy that Collis P. Huntington began 130 years ago,” said Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin. “From the signing of our first contract in 1890, each generation of shipbuilders has made significant contributions to advance the highly skilled craft of shipbuilding. Today, we are writing our own chapter of the Newport News Shipbuilding story. The hard work shipbuilders are doing today will set the path for the shipbuilders of tomorrow.”
Newport News was founded by Collis P. Huntington on Jan. 28, 1886. Originally named the Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Company, the shipyard’s first delivery was the tugboat Dorothy. Since Dorothy, Newport News has built more than 800 ships for the Navy and non-defense customers, including the first Navy vessel designed as an aircraft carrier, USS Ranger (CV 4), and the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
Newport News’ non-naval shipbuilding work has been diverse throughout its history. Following World War I, the shipyard built hydroelectric turbines and railroad cars and restored locomotives. In 1952, the shipyard delivered SS United States, the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction. Today, two of Newport News’ subsidiaries, Newport News Industrial and SN3, provide services for the energy market.