Commissioning of USS Mississippi moved to Pascagoula

Commissioning of USS Mississippi moved to Pascagoula

U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo announced Tuesday the U.S. Navy has moved the June commissioning of the $2 billion USS Mississippi submarine to Pascagoula after concerns were raised about the depth of Gulfport’s channel.

In August, Gulfport Mayor George Schloegel announced at a meeting of local businessmen that the Virginia class sub would be commissioned in his city, but the date was then unknown. Three months later, Palazzo’s office confirmed the date would be June 2 for the Gulfport commissioning, but Tuesday the congressman said in a statement the Navy had reconsidered and had instead decided to hold the commissioning in Pascagoula, where the channel is deeper.

Sun Herald
2/7/12