Mobile-based shipbuilder Austal USA and the U.S. Coast Guard came together Monday to celebrate work on a ship that represents a critical future for both parties – if they can overcome problems so severe that they caused another shipyard to drop out.

The future USCG Pickering is the first of a series of 360-foot Offshore Patrol Cutters that Austal will build in Mobile. It and its sister ships will replace smaller cutters that are 30 to 50 years old; like them, the new ships will serve a wide range of missions.

“Today not only marks a significant milestone in the life of this ship, it’s a critical step forward on our journey to build a stronger, more agile, capable and responsive Coast Guard and fighting force,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard. “The Heritage cl

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