Damaged US Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) has arrived in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where it will undergo some two years of repairs after being involved in a collision with a merchant tnaker in June 2017.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer arrived in Pascagoula on January 19 aboard heavy lift vessel MV Transshelf after getting underway from Yokosuka, Japan, in November.
Fitzgerald is expected to spend several days in the Port of Pascagoula as the heavy lift ship will start the reverse operation of unfastening, lowering, and guiding the ship off the platform. The ship will then be taken to its designated pier space at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard.
Due to the extent and complexity of the restoration, both repair and new construction procedures will be used to accomplish the restoration and modernization efforts.
Various hull mechanical and electrical (HM&E), C4I and combat system equipment, including the electronic warfare suite, radar, switchboard, gas turbine generator, and air condition plant require repair and/or replacement.
Fitzgerald will also receive HM&E, combat system and C5I upgrades that were originally planned for installation during a fiscal year 2019 availability.
Work on the ship is expected to occur on a land level facility throughout 2018 and one to two quarters of 2019, followed by an extensive test and trials period to ensure all systems and spaces are restored to full functionality and operational capability. The entire restoration and modernization effort is expected to complete approximately 24 months post work commencement on the ship.
Fitzgerald was involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal on June 17. Seven sailors lost their lives and the ship was damaged on the starboard side above and below the waterline.
On January 19, the US defense department announced it awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division a $125 million contract modification for the repair and restoration of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62). The modification follows two earlier contracts worth $63 and $29.4 million.
The total cost of returning the destroyer to operational status, including transport from Japan, is expected to reach close to $370 million dollars.