Maine shipyard hopes to build CG cutters

[unhappycamper]

Maine shipyard hopes to build CG cutters
By David Sharp - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday May 23, 2008 14:51:29 EDT

PORTLAND, Maine — Bath Iron Works hasn’t built a Coast Guard ship since the 1930s, but it’s made the list of finalists vying to build a fast-response cutter, a contract that could provide stability for workers while developing new markets for the company.

The Coast Guard winnowed the number of applicants this month based on their ability to meet its demands. Because of secrecy surrounding the competitive bidding process, it’s unknown how many other competitors made the cut. The winner is to be announced in July.

The contract requires 12 cutters to be delivered by 2012, with options for up to 34 altogether, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Laura Williams.

The cutters would help fill an anticipated workload gap for the Bath shipyard while potentially opening the door to construction of other smaller ships, including the Navy’s littoral combat ship designed to operate in near-shore waters, said Jay Korman, naval analyst with the Avascent Group.

“It could open up a whole new business line for them,” Korman said.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_mainecutter_052308/



uhc comment: Read more about this 1/2 billion+ dollar cutter --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=14569