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LCS commissioning can let Mobile show off Wednesday, Dec 02, 2009 Press-Register (Editorial) THE COMMISSIONING of the littoral combat ship Independence will be a very big deal. Scheduled for Jan. 16 at Mobile Landing, the commissioning ceremony and accompanying events are expected to bring top Navy and shipbuilding representatives to Mobile. The event offers an excellent opportunity for Mobile to showcase itself as a center for shipbuilding and defense work. The Independence, built at Austal USA, and the already commissioned Freedom, which was built in Wisconsin, represent a new generation of Navy ships. The LCS operates within 100 miles of a coast, but can go anywhere. It will be the fastest ship in the Navy, and is designed with several sets of interchangeable equipment depending on the mission. The LCS can go where larger Navy ships can't, but it can also function as part of a battle fleet. Because much of its equipment is automated, it can operate with a smaller crew than traditional combat ships: a crew of 40 to 78, depending on the mission. Two core crews of 40 people each will switch off every few months, allowing the Independence itself to stay where it is needed. Austal, as part of General Dynamics Corp.'s team, is competing against Lockheed Martin for future LCS contracts. Both teams have contracts for one more ship each. Then the Navy is expected to choose which team will get to build up to 10 more by 2014. Eventually, other teams would be allowed to bid for future work. Because each ship costs hundreds of millions of dollars, putting on a eye-catching commissioning event is important for Mobile. By itself, a good show won't win future contracts, but it will draw more attention to the city and the capabilities of Austal. A committee appointed to host the event hopes to raise between $350,000 and $400,000 in donations to pay for receptions and celebrations associated with the commissioning. Contributions are not only tax deductible, but they are essentially an economic development investment in Mobile. Original editorial in the Press-Register: http://www.al.com/opinion/press-register/editorials.ssf?/base/opinion/1259748994244690.xml&coll=3 Return to News