Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the United States Navy, called U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King Monday to inform them that Bath Iron Works (BIW) has been awarded a multi-year procurement contract in the amount of $2.8 billion to construct four Arleigh Burke class destroyers (DDG-51's) during the next five years, with the option to build a fifth ship.

Senators Collins and King pledge to continue all efforts to secure the necessary funding to procure the fifth DDG-51 ship from BIW.

“The Navy's decision to award BIW four ships to be built over the next five years will help add stability to the workload there,” said Collins. “However, it is disappointing that we will have to continue to fight for the funding necessary for the fifth DDG-51.

“I fought to include language in the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act that allows the Navy to procure the additional ship, and we had secured an additional $1 billion for the fifth ship in the FY2013 Department of Defense Appropriations Act which was affected by the across-the-board spending cuts under sequestration.”

“The Navy's investment in Bath Iron Works is certainly welcomed and will provide a greater sense of certainty and stability for BIW's workforce during these difficult economic times,” King said. “But I wholeheartedly agree with Senator Collins that it's disappointing we have to continue fighting for the necessary funding for the fifth ship.

“Haphazard budgeting processes, like sequestration, only serve to hamper our nation's economic health and military readiness and I will continue to work with Senator Collins, my colleagues in the Senate, and the leadership of the Navy to determine how we can best alleviate the impact of sequestration so that BIW can build the fifth ship, which they were awarded,” King said.