New cutter springs leaks

The Associated Press is reporting that a Coast Guard cutter built by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., will have to be put in dry dock for repairs. Temporary repairs were made to the four leaks found in April on the USCG Stratton. The 418-foot long ship, the third ship of its class, is homeported in California and was delivered to the Coast Guard in September 2011. No similar problems have been found in the other two ships of the class. (Source: Associated Press via the Sun Herald, Mississippi Press, 05/08/12) The $551 million Stratton (WMSL 752) can reach a top speed of 28 knots and carries a crew of 110. The first two ships of the Legend class are the Bertholf (WMSL 750) and Waesche (WMSL 751).