Ingalls' US NSC James completes acceptance trials

The US Coast Guard National Security Cutter (NSC), James (WMSL 754), built by Huntington Ingalls, has successfully completed her acceptance trials, the company announced on 4 May.

The vessel spent two days in the Gulf of Mexico for the acceptance trials, with the test and trials team conducting extensive testing of the propulsion, electrical, damage control, anchor handling, small boat operations and combat systems. The team also completed a full-power propulsion run on James.

This is the fifth NSC to be built by Huntington Ingalls. In addition to James, the shipyard has two more NSCs under construction. Earlier this year, a construction contract was awarded for an eighth NSC.

Jim French, NSC programme manager, Ingalls, said: 'Once again our shipbuilding team proved their mettle as the ship performed well.

'The NSC programme continues to prove the benefits of serial production, and we incorporate our learning from ship to ship. This allows us to build ships affordably, maintain the industrial base and fold in knowledge from our shipbuilders. The coast guard continues to give us positive feedback, and this sea trial was no exception.'

Richard Schenk, vice president, programme management and test and trials, Ingalls, said: 'The acceptance trial is hard work, and the Ingalls/coast guard team came together to ensure James had a successful two-day run.

'In this two-day span, the Ingalls team performed 131 different events and showed INSURV the outstanding abilities of James. It was a total team effort.'