United Defense Shipyard Wins Ship Repair Contract

United Defense Industries, Inc. announced today the U.S. Navy's award to Southwest Marine (SWM) of the advanced planning segment of the contract for dry docking and pier side work on the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG-57), a Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser home-ported in San Diego. Southwest Marine is a member of United States Marine Repair, Inc. (USMR), which was acquired by United Defense last month. The advanced planning segment of the contract is valued at $518,484. With funded options, the total contract value is in excess of $12 million. SWM is the prime contractor and has teamed with National Steel and Shipbuilding Company and Continental Maritime of San Diego to perform the work. The ship is scheduled to arrive at SWM on September 18, 2002, and work is expected to be completed on November 20, 2002. SWM has performed 31 major repair projects on Aegis ships and has received three Aegis Excellence Awards and two Aegis Team Awards. "Combining Southwest Marine's expertise and record of outstanding past performance on this class of ships with the knowledge of our neighboring shipyard workers provides the Navy with the talent and dedication of the best and brightest in San Diego. We are proud to play a part in providing support for America's defense and military readiness and the men and women who put their lives on the line on our behalf," said Monty Dickinson, SWM's president and general manager. Major dry docking work includes inspection and repair of shafts and propellers, rudder work, hull painting, overhaul and repair of sea valves and inspection of the sonar dome. Over 100 SWM workers a day are assigned to the ship, and SWM will be hiring additional workers to fulfill the contract requirements. The primary mission of the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN is to operate with aircraft carrier battle groups in extreme threat environments. The ship's crew consists of 37 officers, 45 chief petty officers and 325 enlisted personnel. The ship, nicknamed the "CHAMP", recently returned from an extended deployment to the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman with the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Battle Group in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. In response to the September 11 terrorist attacks, she deployed on November 12, two months early. While in the Arabian Gulf, the missions of the "CHAMP" included enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Iraq, a rescue-at-sea of 24 Pakistani refugees whose boat broke down in the Gulf of Oman, and 180 inspections of 16 suspected smuggling vessels. She also took part in coalition operations with ships and aircraft from fifteen navies.