June 27, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- ADVISORY --
News media are invited to the first-ever keel laying ceremony for a Virginia-class submarine at Northrop Grumman Newport News Friday, July 12. Northrop Grumman Corporation's Newport News sector is teamed with Electric Boat to build the first four ships of the Virginia-class. Texas is the second ship of the class and the first one that will undergo final assembly and delivery at Newport News in 2005. The keel that will be laid for Texas is part of the stern section of the ship.
The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be U.S. Sen. John Warner of Virginia. Other ceremony participants will include Northrop Grumman Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kent Kresa, Northrop Grumman Newport News President Tom Schievelbein, Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, U.S. Sen. George Allen of Virginia, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark and Electric Boat President Mike Toner.
Ceremony attendants will include both Northrop Grumman Newport News and Electric Boat employees who are building Texas, U.S. Navy officials and the Pre-Commissioning Unit for the Texas. The ceremony is not open to the public.
Arrangements for media credentials must be made no later than Tuesday, July 9, at 12 noon EDT. Please have the following information available when you call, e-mail or fax us:
* Names of media persons attending and their role (reporter or
photographer)
* Date of birth
* Social Security Number
* Name of news agency
There are two opportunities for media to cover this event. All times listed are EDT.
1. Northrop Grumman Newport News will host a special media preview
Thursday, July 11, at 2 p.m. This is an opportunity to preview
the ceremony site, photograph/film ceremony preparations and talk
with some of the shipyard executives and employees who are
building the ship. CDR Edwin J. Ruff, Commanding Officer,
Pre-Commissioning Unit, Texas, will also be available to talk to
news media.
The media schedule for July 11 is as follows:
* 1:30 p.m. - News media meet at Building 520 (corner of 41st and
Washington Avenue Visitor's Parking Area) for check-in and badging
* 2:00 p.m. - Company transportation to the Module Outfitting
Facility (MOF), site of the Texas keel laying and construction.
* 2-3:00 p.m. - Photo and interview opportunities
* 3:00 p.m. - News media depart.
2. The Texas keel laying ceremony is Friday, July 12. Media parking
has been arranged in the underground parking garage at the
Virginia Advanced Shipbuilding and Carrier Integration Center
(VASCIC). News media need to arrive at the parking area no later
than 10:00 a.m.
The media schedule for July 12 is as follows:
* 10:00 a.m. - All media should arrive at the underground parking
garage for VASCIC (located down the driveway between 23rd and 25th
Streets and West Avenue). Media must show their credentials to a
posted communications representative upon arrival. The
representative will issue event badges and media will then be
shuttled inside the shipyard to the ceremony site at the MOF.
Media that arrive after 10 a.m. will not be permitted to cover the
ceremony.
* The ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. and end by 12:15 p.m. Media
will then be escorted back to the parking area at VASCIC. A
filing center equipped with telephones will be available at VASCIC
following the ceremony.
If you are interested in attending either the July 11 Media Preview Day or the July 12 Keel Laying Ceremony or both, please contact Jennifer Dunn at 757-380-3558, by e-mail at DUNN_JL@NNS.COM or by fax at 757-380-3867.