The U.S. Coast Guard continues to rely on ShipConstructor Software for the detail design of their innovative new vessels. This week the U.S. Coast Guard and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems laid the keel for Stratton, the Coast Guard’s third National Security Cutter. With a length of 418 ft and a 4,300 ton displacement, these cutters are the largest in the history of the service.
The cutters are designed for deepwater operations such as drug and illegal alien interdiction more than 50 miles from shore. Northrop Grumman’s Gulf Coast facility first used ShipConstructor Software to design the hull, structure, piping and HVAC for Bertholf, the initial vessel in this class. Now Northrop Grumman is under contract to build three more cutters including Waesche, which is approximately 90% complete, Stratton, which is more than 20% complete, and Hamilton, for which the Coast Guard has procured long lead time material.
(www.shipconstructor.com)