Navy postpones USS Minneapolis-St. Paul commissioning after design defect discovered

DULUTH, Minn. — The U.S. Navy says the commissioning of the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul in Duluth is on hold after a design defect was discovered.

The high-speed combat ship was christened at the Marinette, Wisconsin, shipyard in 2019. The commissioning ceremony was expected to take place this spring before a problem with the propulsion system was discovered.

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“While we are disappointed that the first-ever commissioning of a Navy vessel in Minnesota will be delayed, we remain optimistic that this historic event will take place in Duluth,” Brian Skon, chairman of the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul Commissioning Committee, said in a statement.

The Navy did not provide a timeline for when it is expected to be commissioned or go into service following the gear fix.

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The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 21st littoral combat ship in the Navy’s fleet. It will have a crew of about 140 sailors and be based out of Mayport, Florida, after its commissioning in Lake Superior, the Star Tribune reported.

The ship is among the fastest combat ships in the Navy with a top speed of 40 knots. It will be the second naval vessel named after both Twin Cities. The submarine USS Minneapolis-St. Paul served from 1984 to 2008.

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