Navy Cancels, Postpones Zumwalt Christening at BIW

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy announced today that the christening of the future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) originally scheduled for Oct. 19 has been cancelled and postponed until a future date.

"It is incredibly unfortunate that we are being forced to cancel the christening ceremony for this great warship," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, "but the ongoing government shutdown prevents us from being able to honor Admiral Zumwalt's memory with a ceremony befitting his and his family's legacy of service to our Nation and our Navy." 

The future USS Zumwalt is a first of class ship for the Navy's next generation destroyer. Zumwalt class ships are tailored for sustained operations in the littorals and land attack, and will provide independent forward presence and deterrence, support special operations forces, and operate as an integral part of joint and combined expeditionary forces. 

The Zumwalt honors Navy Adm. Elmo R. "Bud" Zumwalt Jr., who became the 19th Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in 1970, and passed away in Durham, N.C., Jan. 2, 2000. 

The Navy is in coordination with the Zumwalt family and General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works to reschedule the christening ceremony.

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