"BIW workers are among the most skilled in the world. The ships they build are on the cutting edge of defense technology and serve to strengthen our country's national security and its ability to protect our interests overseas," said Senator Collins. "I will continue to work closely with the Department of Defense to ensure it recognizes the important contributions that BIW makes to our country's ability to build and employ the best navy ships and that it continues to support the work done in this shipyard."
The funding for construction of two DDG-51 Class Destroyers at BIW is included in the Fiscal Year 2004 Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills. The projects are two of only three Destroyer construction projects that the Navy awarded for the year. The two ships to be built in Bath are scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2009. The destroyers are included in an ongoing four-year contract with BIW to build a total seven destroyers - the largest Navy contract in BIW history.
Funding for these two ships was authorized by the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which Senator Collins is a member.