Bath Iron Works will begin work on a $197 million contract to build the DDG-1000 Zumwalt class destroyer ship sooner than anticipated, which is good news for BIW managers who had worried about a work lull.
The Navy had originally planned to first send materials key to the construction to Northrup-Grumman Ship Systems in Mississippi, the other shipyard building the DDG. But yesterday’s decision — announced by Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins — will allow both shipyards to start building the DDGs at the same time, according to the Associated Press.
Based on the first ships, the Navy will decide which shipyard will get a contract to build five more.
