Navy delays christening first DDG-1000 destroyer

The U.S. Navy announced Oct. 11 that the federal government's partial shutdown has forced it to postpone christening the lead ship for a new class of guided-missile destroyers.

The ceremony, in which the ship would be named and launched, was to have taken place Oct. 19 at the General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath. A new date has not been set.

The stealthy, fuel-efficient, 610-foot-long ship is one of three DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers that General Dynamics is building for the Navy. The new vessels will be armed with missiles, torpedoes, guns and helicopters and carry a crew of 148.

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