USS Minneapolis-St. Paul Commissioning in Duluth on Hold

DULUTH (AP) -- The U.S. Navy says the commissioning of the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul in Duluth is on hold after a design defect was discovered.

The high-speed combat ship was christened at the Marinette, Wisconsin shipyard in 2019.

The commissioning ceremony was expected to take place this spring before a problem with the propulsion system was discovered.

The Navy did not provide a timeline for when it is expected to be commissioned or go into service following the gear fix.

The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul is the 21st littoral combat ship in the Navy's fleet.

It will have a crew of about 140 sailors after its commissioning in Lake Superior.