LPD 25 finishes builder's trials

AVONDALE, La. -- The future USS Somerset, LPD 25, successfully completed builder's trials last week at Ingalls Shipbuilding's Avondale, La., yard. Builder's sea trials are designed to test a ship's major systems, including combat, propulsion, ballasting, communications, navigation and mission systems. The trials let the shipbuilder fix deficiencies prior to Navy acceptance trials this fall. LPD 25 is the ninth ship of the LPD 17-class of amphibious transport dock ships. Somerset is named for the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, whose actions disrupted the terrorist hijackers causing Flight 93 to crash in Somerset County, Pa., in September 2001. (Source: Mississippi Press, 08/19/13)