BATH, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- There have been rumors that BIW would start outsourcing some work to a General Dynamics subsidiary in Mexico, but Senator Collins said Wednesday that she personally spoke with Fred Harris, the company's President/CEO, who assures that it will not happen.
"BIW is absolutely essential to the state of Maine. It is the largest private employer that we have. It has good jobs with good benefits and highly skilled workers," said Collins.
Collins toured the shipyard's first-of-it's-kind destroyer - the DDG-1000 - along with Senator Angus King, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, and Admiral Jonathan Greenert. Admiral Greenert is the Chief of Naval Operations and was inspecting the ship for it's future use. Two other DDG-1000s are currently under construction at the shipyard. Greenert said there's a chance the Navy will want more smaller stealth destroyers.
The politicians said the work is essential to Maine and the Navy and they are proud to have the production in the state. They also said they will continue to push for new contracts to keep the thousands employed in the shipyard.
