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Maine Shipyard's Loss May Be Alabama's Gain

Portland, ME – A Navy proposal to award contracts to build speedy littoral combat ships to two shipbuilders could cut out Maine's Bath Iron Works from future bidding.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Tuesday the idea floated last week makes it unlikely the Maine shipbuilder could compete for future construction contracts for that ship.

Bath Iron Works originally worked with Alabama's Austal USA, which built one version of the ship. Bath later severed its relationship with Austal so it could compete based on Navy plans to award a 10-ship contract for one version only. Bath planned to bid on a follow up contract.

Now the Navy wants to build both versions of the ship for a total of 20 ships to be split between Austal USA and Marinette Marine Corp. of Wisconsin.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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