NG gets $480M contract

The Coast Guard has awarded a $480 million fixed-price incentive contract to Northrop Grumman's Shipbuilding sector to build a fourth National Security Cutter in Pascagoula. A company spokesman said that engineering and planning work will begin immediately and start of construction is scheduled to take place in the third quarter of 2011. The cutter will be 418 feet long and carry a crew of about 110. At peak production, 600 to 700 shipbuilders will be working on the ship. (Source: Sun Herald, 11/30/10)