(Tribune News Service) — Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., announced Tuesday it had successfully launched DDG 128 — the latest in a long line of Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.

Prior to launch, the ship was translated from land to the floating dry dock using translation railcars to support the ship. Once in the dry dock, the ship is prepared to launch.

“The translation and launch are always important milestones for our shipbuilders and the life of a ship,” said Ingalls DDG Program Manager Ben Barnett. “Our team has put in a tremendous amount of work leading up to the launch, and I am proud to see them bring DDG 128 one step closer to completion.”

DDG 128 is named for Ted Stevens, the former U.S. Senator from Alaska who served as a pilot in World War II. When he left office in 2009, he was the longest-serving Republican senator in the nation’s history.

Ted Stevens is the 76th ship in the Arleigh Burke class. Ingalls has delivered 35 of the guided missile destroyers to the Navy, including the first Flight III destroyer, Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) in June.

In addition to DDG 128, Ingalls has three more Flight III destroyers under construction: Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131) and Sam Nunn (DDG 133).

Ted Stevens is scheduled to be christened at the Pascagoula shipyard on Aug. 19.

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