It's been widely reported that bad cabling on communications systems aboard the Coast Guard's new (and late) National Security Cutter means the ship won't be ready for service for up to two years after the Coast
Guard officially accepts it.
Is this an isolated problem with the cutter design, or is there a systemic flaw in Northrop Grumman's Gulf
Coast shipbuilding? Just three days ago Northrop said it would take a
$350-million charge due to bad cabling on a new Navy amphibious ship under construction in Mississippi:
In recent weeks, lack of progress in LHD-8 on-board testing preparatory to sea trials prompted the company to undertake a comprehensive review of the program, including a detailed physical audit of the ship. This examination identified the need for substantial rework on the ship, primarily in electrical cable installations. The revised estimate to complete the ship results from a thorough examination of the amount of rework and the additional time needed to complete the ship. The LHD-8 is now expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2009. In addition, an evaluation is being performed on other ships under construction at the Gulf Coast shipyard, including the resource impact caused by the delay in the LHD-8.
Considering that Northrop builds most of our large warships, the performance of the company's shipyards is a big, big deal. Especially with plans afoot to grow the size of the Navy fleet.
