Next generation guided missile destroyer Zumwalt (DDG-1000) is back at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard after four days of successful builder’s trails, according to the service.
The service will now prepare for next month’s acceptance trials ahead of delivery of the ship to the Navy. The ship arrived Thursday afternoon to the Maine yard, sources who saw the ship return to its pier at BIW told USNI News.
During the four days of trials, “representatives from BIW, PCU Zumwalt, the Navy’s Program Office, SUPSHIP Bath and various technical subject matter experts, including Raytheon personnel, tested several ship systems including key propulsion and auxiliary systems as well as boat operations,” read a Friday statement provided to USNI News by the service.
“These trials also served as a unique opportunity for the crew to train side-by-side with representatives from industry. The Navy will continue to assess system performance over the coming weeks.”
The ship’s delivery and acceptance will only be for the ship’s hull, mechanical and electrical (HM&E) systems. The ship features a new integrated power system that is much more complex than existing navy ship propulsion designs that have reportedly resulted in schedule and cost increases for the production of the three ships in the $22 billion class.
Following delivery of the ship to the service, Zumwalt and its crew will go to San Diego to have the bulk of the combat system installed in part to free up space for additional production at the shipyard.
The following is the complete March 25, 2016 statement from the service on the trials.
DDG 1000 (ZUMWALT) returned to Bath, Maine, after successfully conducting four days of at-sea Builder’s Trials. Representatives from BIW, PCU Zumwalt, the Navy’s Program Office, SUPSHIP Bath, and various technical subject matter experts, including Raytheon personnel, tested several ship systems including key propulsion and auxiliary systems as well as boat operations. These trials also served as a unique opportunity for the crew to train side-by-side with representatives from Industry. The Navy will continue to assess system performance over the coming weeks in preparation for Acceptance Trials next month.
