Northrop Grumman Corporation announced that it has suspended all work on Project America, a cruise ship program to build two 1,900-passenger cruise ships at its Pascagoula (Mississippi), Ingalls Operation. Approximately 1,250 of the 1,600 full-time employees assigned to the project will be affected by this suspension. Additional 500 subcontractor employees could also be affected.

American Classic Voyages Company, the parent of Project America, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 19, following the tragic events of Sept. 11 and their impact on the tourism industry.

Northrop Grumman said that ongoing work on the program was subject to Project America's ability to secure immediate financing for the balance of the contract. The completion of this financing was contingent upon U.S. Maritime Administration loan guarantees. "Unfortunately, to date the U.S. Maritime Administration has decided not to continue the guaranteed funding necessary for the construction of the ships," said Phil Dur, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems sector. Dur added that the decision follows more than six months of sustained effort by Northrop Grumman to continue work on the first cruise ships to be built in the U.S. in more than 40 years.Currently, the first cruise ship is 40 percent complete, and 55 percent erected. Approximately 91 percent of the production material has been committed.