Bollinger Shipyards Inc. has filed a $12 million lawsuit against the shipbuilding arm of defense giant Northrop Grumman Corp. in a dispute involving the renovation of Coast Guard cutters that were later taken out of service.
Lockport, La.-based Bollinger had a joint venture with Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Inc. to extend the length of 49 Coast Guard cutters from 110 feet to 123 feet. But the first eight boats produced under that contract were taken out of service when the frames cracked on their maiden voyages.