Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) was awarded options to build two additional Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). These are the fifth and sixth LCS ships that MMC has been contracted to build under the 2010 block buy contract. The award of LCSs 13 and 15 increases MMC’s backlog through 2016 and assures the company’s ability to maintain its current workforce of approximately 1400 employees.
“We are extremely proud and humbled to build these fine ships for our nation’s warfighters,” stated MMC President and CEO Chuck Goddard. “The dedication and skills of our workforce are second to none. It’s no longer a Wisconsin secret that MMC produces some of the most technologically advanced vessels in the world. Through Fincantieri’s $74 million investment in our infrastructure and workforce, we continue to exceed the Navy’s demand in delivering two ships per year. The award of LCSs 13 and 15 allows us to continue improving our processes and building upon best practices. We are pleased to be able to use our enhanced competencies to benefit the US Navy in such a critical program.”
Under the US Navy’s block buy contract for the Freedom‐variant Littoral Combat Ship, the LCS 5 Milwaukee, LCS 7 Detroit, and LCS 9 Little Rock are currently under construction in the yard, and long‐lead material is being procured for the LCS 11 Sioux City. The first two LCSs built by MMC under previous contracts – USS Freedom and USS Fort Worth ‐ have already been delivered to the Navy.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, March 6, 2013; Image: US Navy