PASCAGOULA, Miss., June 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Coast Guard has given the shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries a contract for the advance purchase of materials for a new cutter.
The contract is a fixed-price vehicle worth $76.8 million.
"This advance procurement contract allows us to maintain production line and supplier base momentum while we prepare for the ship construction contract," said Jim French, Ingalls' National Security Cutter program manager.
"Advance procurement funding helps us procure equipment and materials at favorable prices from our suppliers, and it keeps their production line flowing as well.
"The Coast Guard continues to report their satisfaction with these ships, and we remain focused on improving our performance," he said.
The cutter to be built is the Kimball (WMSL 756).
The company said items such as steel, main propulsion systems, generators, electrical switchboards and major castings will be acquired under the award.
National Security Cutters are 418 feet long, displace 4,500 tons with a full load and have a maximum speed of 28 knots.
