LCS-2 Takes on Water...Déjà vu...flashback to Austal welder's radio interview in April 2008

The following interesting news brief today out of Mobile, Alabama. This reminds me of comments by former Austal first class welder Wayne Jenkins in a radio interview from April 2008. A link to that interview is here at Disappeared News. In that interview Wayne speaks about this area of the ships. Might venture a guess to check the welds, and the production processes used to deal with possibly imperfect aluminium "butt welds"?

From: http://www.al.com/business/press-register/index.ssf?/base/business/1255166112192270.xml&coll=3

Business Briefs

Saturday, October 10, 2009

LCS-2 Independence takes on water

General Dynamics Corp. said this week that the jet-drive compartment on the Austal-built littoral combat ship Independence took on an undetermined amount of water Oct. 1. The compartment is an unmanned space that houses waterjets, gears and other mechanical and electrical equipment for the ship's propulsion system.

"When (Austal) discovered the issue, they dewatered the space," said General Dynamics spokesman Jim DeMartini. "At this stage, we're pretty well back on track."

The flooding resulted in the replacement of some components, though nothing major, he said. General Dynamics, Austal and the Navy are investigating the cause, he said.

The new breed of shallow-water warship was built at Austal for a General Dynamics-led team. It is scheduled to undergo acceptance trials by the Navy in mid-November and be delivered by the end of the year...