Press Releases

Calls on Navy Secretary to release funding for work on DDG-1000 line

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree is pressing the Navy to release additional funding to keep work going on a new line of ships at Bath Iron Works and keep workers on the job.

"I've been urging the Navy to sign on the dotted line and finalize contracts for the next two DDG-1000s to be built at Bath, but while we are waiting it's essential the Navy frees up the money necessary to avoid layoffs and avoid delays in construction," Pingree said.

In a letter to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus on Friday, Pingree said "the production workers responsible for building these Navy ships build the best ships in the world; we must do everything in our power to avoid disruption to this workforce, especially in this economy."

Pingree plans to talk to Mabus about the funding tomorrow morning.

BIW is currently building the first ship in the DDG-1000 line but contracts for the next two have yet to be finalized, due to ongoing negotiations between BIW and the Navy. Since BIW has only one remaining ship in the DDG-51 line left to build, the new DDG-1000 work is critical to avoid layoffs. Congress has approved funding for the next two ships, but the overall construction contracts haven't been signed yet.

In addition to releasing the funding, Pingree has asked Mabus to report on when he expects the final contracts to be signed.