Bath Iron Works loses $10 billion Coast Guard contract

BATH — The U.S. Coast Guard selected a Florida shipyard for a crucial contract to build Coast Guard cutters, dealing a blow Thursday to the workforce at Bath Iron Works, which needed it to stave off job cuts.

The Coast Guard announced that it selected Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City, Florida, for the next phase of the Offshore Patrol Cutter program.

The contract was so important to Bath Iron Works that workers made concessions in a new contract approved in December to make the shipyard more competitive.

Rich Nolan, president of Machinists Union Local S6, the largest union at the shipyard, said he didn't think any layoffs were imminent but conceded the announcement was bad news.

Read more: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/business/2016/09/16/biw-loses-10-billion-coast-guard-contract/1994649