Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, Senator Mark Kelly, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith Tour Vigor, USS Gabrielle Giffords at Harbor Island
Seattle, Wash. November 7, 2021
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (Ariz.), Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (Wash.) and House Armed Services Committee Chair Adam Smith (Wash.) visited Vigor’s Harbor Island shipyard in Seattle today, including touring the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), which is currently undergoing maintenance.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords admires USS Gabrielle Giffords at Vigor's Harbor Island Shipyard in Seattle. by Photo Courtesy of Vigor
“Congresswoman Giffords’ strength and courage are an inspiration to all Americans and Vigor is honored to welcome her to our Harbor Island shipyard to see the work of our skilled employees and visit her namesake U.S. Navy ship,” said Jim Marcotuli, Vigor President and CEO. “Vigor’s strong performance for our Navy customer, as well as our other valued customers, is a testament to our great workers. We commend the outstanding leadership of Senator Kelly and Congressman Smith in their duties related to our nation’s defense. Their continued efforts in Congress directly result in readiness of the fleet, as well as hundreds of family wage, skilled jobs here at Vigor.”
USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) is undergoing a docking selected restricted availability (DSRA), as part of the same award that will bring USS Omaha (LCS 12) to Harbor Island in December. Both vessels are undergoing structural repairs throughout, replacing flight deck stanchions and underwater hull painting. Jet drives are being overhauled; the main propulsion engines are receiving a checkup and overhaul; and several ancillary systems are being repaired. Regular Planned Maintenance (PMAV) will also be conducted during the availability.
Approximately 165 employees are expected to work on the ships during their stays.
Other U.S. Navy vessels currently undergoing maintenance at Vigor’s Harbor Island Shipyard are USS Chosin (CG 65), and USS Cape St. George (CG 71), as well as USS McCampbell (DDG 85) at Vigor’s Swan Island facility in Portland, Ore.
USS Gabrielle Giffords is the 16th U.S. naval ship to be named for a woman by the U.S. Navy and the 13th since 1850 to be named after a living person. Construction began in 2014 and the ship was commissioned in December 2016, in Galveston, TX. Its home port is San Diego, CA.
Photos courtesy of Vigor. For more photos, contact Benton Strong, Benton.strong@vigor.net.
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ABOUT VIGOR
Vigor is a values-driven, diversified industrial business operating in seven locations with 2,300 people in Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. Built around a collection of powerful, unique assets and differentiated capabilities, Vigor excels at specialized shipbuilding, ship repair and handling important, complex projects in support of energy generation, our nation’s infrastructure and national defense. With deep respect for people and the planet, Vigor strives to be a positive, regenerative force for good – environmentally, in the lives of its employees and in the community. Vigor … Industrial Evolution. For more information, visit vigor.net.
ABOUT TITAN
A family of bicoastal leaders in ship repair, ship modernization, marine and complex fabrication services, Titan Acquisition Holdings was formed by global investment firm The Carlyle Group and private equity firm Stellex Capital Management following their 2019 acquisition of MHI Holdings and Vigor. Titan is the parent company of Vigor, operating in the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii and Alaska; MHI, based in Norfolk, Virginia; and Continental Maritime of San Diego (CMSD) in California. Notable Titan family customers include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command, Maritime Administration, U.S. Army, local and state ferry systems, and commercial ship owners.