Two successful ship launchings in one week on two very important shipbuilding programs have Northrop Grumman officials excited about production in a post- Hurricane Katrina environment.
Shipbuilders from the company’s Ship Systems sector in Pascagoula launched the U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) on Sept. 22 and one week later launched the U.S. Coast Guard’s first National Security Cutter, the Bertholf.
A ship launching involves a meticulous schedule of events such as moving a ship across land via the company’s rail transfer system and ends with the ship in the center of the shipyard’s floating dry-dock, officials said Monday.