The Navy has awarded a $553.9 million contract option to Fincantieri Marinette Marine to build a second Constellation-class guided missile frigate, the service announced Thursday.

The future USS Congress is designed to have multi-mission capability to conduct air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, electronic warfare, and information operations, the Navy said.

"The Navy Program Office is pleased to award the option for the USS Congress (FFG 63) to our industry partner Fincantieri Marinette Marine," Capt. Kevin Smith, major program manager for Constellation Class Frigate, said in the Navy's release. "As the second ship of the Constellation Class Frigate Program, the USS Congress will provide a highly capable, next-generation surface combatant that our Navy and Nation needs."

The vessel will be built at Fincantieri's shipyard in Marinette, Wisc., where preparations are currently being made for the construction of its sister ship, the USS Constellation, the Navy said.

According to the Pentagon's contract announcement, other work on the contract will be performed in Boston, New Orleans, Crozet, Va., and several other U.S. worksites.

The USS Congress' name was announced in December by then-Navy Secretary Kenneth J. Braithwaite.

As of December the vessel is expected to be delivered in 2026, with the Pentagon's more recent announcement saying work is expected to be completed by January 2027.

USS Emory S. Land returns to Guam after 8-month maintenance period
Washington DC (UPI) May 20, 2021 - The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land returned to its home port at U.S. Naval Base Guam Thursday following an eight-month overhaul and dry-dock period in California, the Navy has announced.

According to a Navy press release, the vessel was docked at Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo, Calif., for numerous projects that included an upgrade to the ship's communication system and a fixed ballast install of 485 long tons of lead to improve buoyancy and stability.

"This maintenance period was a huge success," Capt. Michael Luckett, Land's commanding officer, said in the release.

"With the completion of this yard period, I feel confident in our ability to return to the fleet stronger than we were before and ready to carry out our mission in the years ahead," Luckett said.

The Land left Vallejo in early April, traveling to San Diego's Naval Base Point Loma to undergo various inspections and receive a visit from the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet's Submarine Force.

Sailors and civilian mariners also received their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during their visit to Naval Base Loma, the Navy said.

The vessel arrived in California in August for a maintenance period paid for by a $33.5 million Navy contract.

The ship is homeported in Guam, and provides maintenance, hotel services and logistical support to submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation, the Navy said.

Land is scheduled to assume duties as the lead maintenance activity this summer and will continue to service submarines and surface ships throughout the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

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Elevators aboard USS Gerald R. Ford to be fixed after shock trials
Washington DC (UPI) May 17, 2021
The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will undergo exercises known as shock trials within weeks, and later deal with four inoperable weapons elevators. The lower-stage elevators on the vessel, used to move ordnance, have been a problem since construction began in 2009. The ship was launched in 2009 and commissioned in 2013. The four elevators, of 11 aboard the ship, will be dealt with during the ship's Planned Incremental Availability later this year, a scheduled upgrading and moderniz ... read more