Ingalls authenticates NSC 10 keel

Ship sponsor Christina Calhoun Zubowicz writes her initials onto a steel plate that will be welded inside Calhoun (WMSL 759), the national security cutter named in honor of her grandfather, Charles L. Calhoun. Pictured with Zubowicz are (left to right) George Nungesser, Ingalls Shipbuilding Vice President of Program Management; Christopher Tanner, a structural welder at Ingalls; and Capt. Peter Morisseau, commanding officer, U.S. Coast Guard Project Resident Office Gulf Coast. [Photo by Lance Davis/HII]

Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (NYSE: HII) reports that its Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel of Legend-class national security cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) in a ceremony held July 23.

“This is a very special keel authentication ceremony for a multitude of reasons,” said George Nungesser, Ingalls’ vice president of program management. “While we were able to work steadily and safely though the pandemic, visitation to the shipyard made commemorating major shipbuilding milestones a challenge. We are proud to be able to celebrate our talented shipbuilders and their successes today during this ceremonial keel laying.”

Calhoun recently reached the halfway point of its construction. Ingalls is the builder-of-record for the Legend-class NSC program and has thus far delivered nine ships, with two more under construction.

NSC 10 is named for Charles L. Calhoun, the first master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard. He served in the U.S. Navy for three years during World War II and was honorably discharged as a torpedoman second class in February 1946. Seven months later, he enlisted in the Coast Guard and held various leadership positions over the course of 14 years. He served as master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard from August 27, 1969 until August 1, 1973.

The sponsor of NSC 10 is his granddaughter, Christina Calhoun Zubowicz.

“I want to thank the entire United States Coast Guard for this opportunity and recognize their fervent efforts in protecting America’s economic, national and border security,” Zubowicz said. “May abundant divine protection, luck and blessings surround the ship: and the men and women – the shipbuilders, in crafting the new innovative national security cutter, Calhoun.”

The Legend-class NSC is the most technologically advanced ship in the Coast Guard’s fleet. They are 418 feet long with a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 120.