Kevin Amis: Ingalls Shipbuilding Delivers USS Monsoor’s ‘Unique’ Deckhouse

Kevin Amis, DDG 1000 Program director at Ingalls Shipbuilding, highlighted the company’s latest contribution to the new generation of warships as it delivered the composite deckhouse for the U.S. Navy’s latest destroyer.

The Huntington Ingalls Industries division manufactured the USS Michael Monsoor’s 900-ton carbon fiber structure at its Composite Center of Excellence facility in Gulfport, Mississippi.

“This is a very unique structure for a very unique ship,” Amis said Thursday.

Jonathan Graves, DDG 1000 program manager’s representative, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast, described the deckhouse as “complex and cutting edge.”

“(The) deckhouse will serve as the heart of the USS Michael Monsoor,” Graves said, adding, “We are extremely honored to have a role in celebrating a great American and Medal of Honor-winning hero.”

The two officials made the remarks as the company announced signing off the deckhouse, which will now be shipped to Maine for integration onto the Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer’s steel hull at a General Dynamics facility.

HII said the composite structure will enclose the ship’s bridge, antennae and radars, and intake and exhaust systems.