PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi shipyard workers, Navy sailors and the family of the late U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska gathered for the keel authentication of a ship that is named for Stevens.
The ceremonial welding March 9 marked the foundation of Ingalls Shipbuilding’s new guided-missile destroyer for the Navy, the USS Ted Stevens.
Stevens was a pilot during World War II. The Alaska Republican served in the Senate from 1968 to 2008. He was 86 when he died in 2010 in a plane crash in Alaska.
“In many ways, Sen. Stevens embodies the spirit of DDG-51 class ships: steadfast, strong and built to fight in order to uphold America’s ideals,” Capt. Seth Miller said. The ship measures more than 500 feet in length and can run at 31 knots.
Imprinted on the vessel are the initials of its sponsors: The late senator’s wife, Catherine Stevens, and daughters Sue Covich and Lily Stevens-Becker. They watched as Ingalls welder Henry Johnson molded the letters onto a ceremonial plate that represents the spirit of the ship.
The ship is about 35% complete and is expected to hit the water by the end of the year. The Ted Stevens is the 36th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer built at Ingalls.
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