Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced that the amphibious transport dock Somerset (LPD 25) returned from successful U.S. Navy acceptance sea trials on Sept. 20. The company's ninth ship in the San Antonio (LPD 17) class returned to the company's Avondale facility following three days of at-sea demonstrations and testing, the Company said in its news release.
The 684-foot-long vessel's primary mission is to transport up to 800 Marines, their fighting vehicles and aircraft.
Ingalls has completed sea trials on nine LPDs.
The U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) observed more than 200 test events performed on the ship by Ingalls' test and trials team. The team thoroughly tested the ship's systems, including anchor handling, flight operations, steering, navigation, and ballasting and de-ballasting the well deck and a full power demonstration.
Somerset is named to honor the courage of the passengers and crew members of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed on Sept. 11, 2001, near Shanksville in Somerset County, Pa.
The ships are meant to provide the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked and survivable. They have the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion or conventional landing craft and expeditionary fighting vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, such as the MV-22 Osprey.
Two other LPDs are also under construction at the Pascagoula shipyard. John P. Murtha (LPD 26) is slated for completion in 2016, and Portland (LPD 27) will complete in 2017.
In addition to more than 10,000 Ingalls shipbuilders, there are 650 suppliers from 38 states that support the LPD 17 program. Ingalls spends approximately $175 million a year with this vital industrial base.
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