Huntington Ingalls to Repair USS Fitzgerald Guided Missile Destroyer

US Navy Destroyer, USS Fitzgerald, damaged in a collision with a container ship off the coast of Japan, is to be repaired by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) for an approximate US$500 million bill.

The work will be performed at Huntington's shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., after the ship is transported from Japan, the US Navy said in a statement.

“The start date, scope, cost and the time required to fully restore the ship have not yet been determined,"  the US Navy statement said, adding, "only HII has the available capacity to restore Fitzgerald to full operational status in the shortest period of time with minimal disruption to ongoing repair and new construction work."

The actual contract for the work is expected to be completed later this year, with the cost for all fixes likely surpassing the $500 million mark, various US media outlets said.

Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias said in a statement, "but it is an honor and a privilege to work with the Navy to return the ship to the fleet in the shortest time possible."

The USS Fitzgerald was involved in a collision off Japan with a Philippine-flagged merchant vessel on June 17. The ship suffered damage on her starboard side above and below the waterline. Seven sailors died in the mishap.