SAN DIEGO, June 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- General Dynamics NASSCO announced today that it has received a $60 million contract from the U.S. Navy to purchase long-lead materials for the construction of a third Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship. NASSCO is already under contract to build two MLP ships. With this new contract, NASSCO will place orders for the ship's engines and other components that have significant manufacturing lead times. A contract that fully funds construction of the third MLP ship is expected to be awarded by early next year. General Dynamics NASSCO is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD.)
"With the first MLP ship now under construction, we are pleased to be selected to build another MLP," said Frederick J. Harris, president of General Dynamics NASSCO. "This contract demonstrates the U.S. Navy's confidence in our ability to build and deliver a high-quality ship on schedule."
The MLP is a new class of auxiliary ship for the Navy. Once delivered, MLP ships will join the three Maritime Prepositioning Force squadrons that are strategically located around the world to enable rapid response in a crisis. MLP ships will be 233 meters (765 feet) in length and 50 meters (164 feet) in beam, with a design draft of 12 meters (29 feet). The deadweight tonnage is in excess of 60,000 metric tons.
Located in San Diego, General Dynamics NASSCO employs more than 3,600 people and is the only major ship construction yard on the West Coast of the United States. Additional information on General Dynamics NASSCO can be found at www.nassco.com.
More information about General Dynamics can be found at www.gd.com.
SOURCE General Dynamics NASSCO
