On July 12th, the National Security Cutter James (WMSL 754) departed from the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), merely a month after it was delivered to the United States Coast Guard.

Ingalls Completes NSC 5

Photo: Lance Davis/HII

“James is a top-notch vessel and serves as another perfect example of our shipbuilders’ amazing work. By exploiting the benefits that come along with serial production practices, each successive vessel along the lines of this program continues to come down the learning curve. We’ve managed to maintain the high-level quality, as evident by the significant reduction of the trial cards number with every successive vessel in the class. Our shipbuilders have managed to once again deliver a NSC that is going to continue protecting our nation for another 40 years,” commented Derek Murphy, NSC Program Manager.

James has been scheduled for commissioning on August 8th in Boston, MA. The vessel is to be then stationed in Charleston SC, along with the company’s 4th NSC, Hamilton (WMSL 753).

Ingalls has managed to deliver five NSCs thus far and has two more being built at the moment. Early on this year, the company received a building contract regarding an 8th NSC.

NSC 5’s name serves as means of honoring Captain Joshua James, who is among the most celebrated lifesavers in history. He began his lifesaving “career” at the age of 15 when he decided to join the Massachusetts Humane Society. Over the course of the following 60 years, he received credit for saving over 600 lives. At the time of his death, at age 75, he was still serving at the United States Live-Saving Service, which later on underwent a merger with the U.S. Coast Guard.

The National Security Cutters, which serve as the Coast Guard’s flagships among the ranks of its cutter fleet, are to be the replacements of the 378‐foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters, which began providing their services back in the 60s. NSCs have a length of 418 feet, a beam of 54 feet and 4,500-ton full-load displacement. They are able to reach a maximum speed level of 28 knots, a 12,000-mile range, a 60-day endurance and are can easily accommodate a 120-man crew.