New York LPD 21 Reaches Significant Milestone With Sea Trial

(Avondale, La., July 2, 2009) -- The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) New York (LPD 21) successfully accomplished builder's sea trials this week in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship's bow stem contains seven-and-a-half tons of steel recovered from the World Trade Center following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. LPD 21 is under construction at the company's Avondale facility in Louisiana.

"This ship is a symbol of American patriotism at its finest, not only for the steel in the bow stem cutting through the water, but also for the committed shipbuilders who constructed her with a focus on quality," Tim Farrell, vice president and program manager, LPD program, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding - Gulf Coast.

"This ship will perform many different missions for our sailors and Marines and our shipbuilding workforce continues to instill their sense of pride into every part of this ship. We understand how sending this ship to the Fleet honors the heroes and victims of that terrible day in our Nation's history."

Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's test and trials group tested LPD 21's main propulsion, communications, steering, navigational, radar and other systems. Other exercises included anchor handling, flight operations, compartment air balancing and ballasting/de-ballasting of the well deck, where amphibious landing craft will be launched.

"I've been very pleased across the board with everything I've seen on this builder's trials," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. F. Curtis Jones of Binghamton, N.Y., the prospective commanding officer of the ship who will lead the crew of 360 officers and enlisted personnel.

"It's a huge undertaking and the level of effort, pride and attention to detail by the shipbuilders is extraordinarily apparent. Between the individual crafts and all the workers, it's clear a lot of extra hard work went into getting the ship to this point. I'm very excited and happy with the way the ship has performed. I'm looking forward to being able to call this ship our own."

Source : Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) - click here for more information