SENATOR COLLINS ANNOUNCES $488M CONTRACT FOR BIW

Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins announced today that Bath Iron Works has been awarded $488,647,719 as part of a contract to construct a DDG 51 Class AEGIS Destroyer. The contract includes funding for technical support and supplies needed for the project. Work on the DDG ship is expected to be completed by May 2010. Senator Collins is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senator Collins advocated for this funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2004 Defense Authorization Budget.

"This is an important contract for BIW to stay competitive in the shipbuilding industry and to maintain a steady workload at the shipyard," said Senator Collins. "BIW workers prove time and again that they are the best in the world at delivering the most advanced and reliable ships that our Navy fleet requires."

"I met today with the Chief of Naval Operations, Vernon Clark, to stress to him the importance of BIW in ensuring that our Navy remains the most advanced in the world. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, it is a top priority for me to ensure that the Navy recognizes the unique and valuable contribution that BIW makes to the nation's defense and to ensure that the shipyard continues to be awarded these valuable contracts," Senator Collins added.

Senator Collins has also discussed BIW's shipbuilding priorities with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, and other military officials.

Senator Collins successfully secured millions of dollars of shipbuilding funds as part of the Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill that will benefit BIW, including $84.4 million for accelerated work on the DD(X). That funding represents the first installment of BIW's construction of its first DD(X) and will accelerate the start of the construction of the DD(X).

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