November 11, 2006

Celebrating the Christening of an extraordinary ship, U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter, BERTHOLF (WMSL 750), the centerpiece of the Integrated Deepwater System's System of Systems. At 418-feet-long and displacing 4,300 tons, this largest of the Deepwater cutters will prove to be the most technically advanced class of cutter in existence today.

BERTHOLF (WMSL 750), was named in recognition of Commodore Ellsworth Price Bertholf, USRCS, USCG, the first Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. Many of the Coast Guard's most critical missions – from countering terrorist threats, rescuing mariners in distress, catching drug smugglers, stopping illegal migrants, and protecting our marine environment - will be accomplished utilizing this new ship. This cutter will comprise the first line of defense against threats to America's homeland and our nation's maritime security. We are very proud to be a part of this important team.

Northrop Grumman Corporation will welcome Meryl Chertoff, wife of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, as sponsor of this first-of-the-class ship that will lead the Coast Guard's future fleet under the Deepwater acquisition program.

Deepwater is a critical multi-year, multi-billion dollar program to modernize and replace the Coast Guard's aging ships and aircraft, and improve command and control and logistics systems. It is the largest recapitalization effort in the history of the Coast Guard.

Northrop Grumman’s Ship Systems sector is building the ship at their Pascagoula facility, under contract from Integrated Coast Guard Systems LLP, a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems is capitalizing on the talents and resources from all its shipbuilding facilities in the Deepwater Program (www.teamdeepwater.com). The engineering efforts are centered at New Orleans Operations, Gulfport Operations is developing composite structures for future cutter-class construction, while erection of the cutters is at Pascagoula Operations.