Commissioning for USS North Dakota on hold, for now

Commissioning ceremonies for the USS North Dakota, the U.S. Navy's newest nuclear-powered submarine, may or may not happen on May 31 as scheduled.

Colleen O'Rourke of the U.S. Navy's Sea Systems Command, said Thursday the Navy is evaluating whether to postpone the commissioning in Groton, Conn.

O'Rourke said the Navy is looking to complete additional design and certification work and evaluate other issues before commissioning the $2.6 billion, 377-foot-long Virginia Class submarine.

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