HII launches fourth Legend-class national security cutter for USCG

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has launched the US Coast Guard’s (USCG) fourth Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) Hamilton (WMSL 753).

Ingalls’ NSC programme manager Jim French said, "It’s a weeklong process to first translate the ship across land into our floating drydock and then going through an extensive ship-wide check-out process to launch."

HII has delivered three NSCs to replace USCG’s aging fleet of 378ft-long Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, which have been deployed since the 1960s.

"The NSC is a proven hull, and our Coast Guard customer is pleased with the performance of the first three ships currently operating in the fleet," French added.

The fifth cutter, Joshua James (WMSL 754) is currently 32% complete and is expected to be delivered to the Navy in the spring of 2014.

Construction began on nine units for sixth NSC and advance long lead material procurement contract has been awarded for a seventh NSC.

Capable of cruising at a maximum speed of 28k, the 418ft-long NSCs have a displacement capacity of 4,500t when fully loaded, a range of 12,000m, can endure for 60 days and accommodate a crew of 110.

Designed to enhance USCG’s operational readiness, capacity and effectiveness to perform maritime security missions, the Legend-class NSCs has a flight deck to carry a range of manned and unmanned rotary-wing aircraft as well as an aft launch and recovery area to carry two rigid hull inflatable boats.

The NSCs will be used to support missions for maritime homeland security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection and national defence missions.

Image: USCG’s Hamilton (WMSL 753) boat stationed at a dockyard. Photo: Photo by Steve Blount.