Cutter keel authenticated

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The keel of the Coast Guard National Security Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753) was authenticated Wednesday at the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding facility. In the keel laying, the sponsor's name is welded into the keel plate in a traditional ceremony. Ingalls has delivered three 418-foot long Legend-class NSCs, designed to replace the 378‐foot Hamilton-class cutters. WMSL 753 is scheduled to be delivered in the third quarter of 2014. A fifth NSC, Joshua James (WMSL 754), is currently being built and expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2015. (Source: Huntington Ingalls via Globe Newswire, 09/05/12)