USS Independence LCS-2

The Navy currently plans a new bidding process with the FY2010 budget between Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics for the next three littoral combat ships, with the winner building two ships and the loser only one. USS Independence was christened October 5, 2008 by Doreen Scott, wife 10th Master Chief Petty Officer the Navy Terry D. Scott.
Austal has proposed a much smaller and slower trimaran, called the Multi-Role Vessel or Multi-Role Corvette. Though it is only half the size their LCS design, it would still be useful for border protection and counter piracy operations. Navy leaders said that the fixed price competition fered the Austal design an equal shot, in spite its excess size and cost and limited service.
The development and construction Independence as June 2009 was running at 100% over-budget. The total projected cost for the ship is $704 million. The Navy had originally projected the cost at $220 million. Independence began builder's trials near Mobile, Alabama on July 2, 2009, three-days behind schedule because maintenance issues.
In response to problems with the propulsion plant, the ship experienced a leak in the port gas turbine shaft seal, General Dynamics resequenced the builder's trials to test other systems until this was fixed. The ship completed builder's trials on October 21, 2009 and acceptance trials on November 19, 2009.