SENATOR COLLINS PRESSES HEAD OF COAST GUARD TO SEND SHIPBUILDING PROJECTS TO BIW

Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins has asked the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to consider using Bath Iron Works (BIW) for additional shipbuilding projects that would help modernize and strengthen the Coast Guard's fleet. Senator Collins wrote a letter to Admiral Thomas Collins (no relation) suggesting that BIW be considered for additional construction projects that are part of the USCG's Deepwater program. The Deepwater program is the USCG's continuing effort to recapitalize its aging fleet by modernizing or replacing current ships and aircraft with state-of-the-art technologies that are fully interoperable.

"I would like to suggest that BIW in Maine be strongly considered by the Coast Guard as a shipyard for construction of some of the new classes of medium and large Cutters in the Deepwater program," wrote Senator Collins. "I would hope that as Congress is able to provide increased funding for accelerating the Deepwater program, that BIW would be considered to assist the Coast Guard with its increased shipbuilding needs. If you or your Deepwater staff would like to visit BIW, I would be happy to assist and facilitate that visit."

Senator Collins, as the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, has been a strong advocate for acceleration and increased funding of the Deepwater program.

"The Coast Guard must have up to date and reliable assets to perform its important homeland security and traditional missions," said Senator Collins. "BIW has a dedicated and experienced workforce that has already proven it delivers the best ships in the world, through its work building Aegis-class Destroyers for the Navy. This would be a perfect partnership."

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