Pascagoula, Mississippi-based US shipbuilder Ingalls Shipbuilding has admitted to overcharging for time during key United States government contracts, WKRG News 5 reported.
In a statement to the news station, an Ingalls spokesperson admitted the company had "recently learned of time charging irregularities by employees."
"The irregularities were discovered by company personnel. We are conducting a thorough investigation with outside, third party experts to review the facts and to determine the scope of the irregularities. We are also investigating the cause and concurrently developing a robust corrective action plan to prevent further occurrences."
Citing "disappointment in these individuals" the company further stated it had taken "prompt, serious and appropriate action and will continue to do so as required":
"We are very disappointed in these individuals and their behavior is in no way a reflection of the culture at Ingalls. Customers and appropriate government agencies have been notified."
According to News 5, Ingalls Shipbuilding has not said if the employees involved are still working at the company.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, the owner of Ingalls Shipbuilding, is the largest military shipbuilder in the United States and builds and maintains ships for the US Navy and Coast Guard. The Ingalls Shipbuilding division in Pascagoula and Gulfport employs almost 10,000 workers and specialises in the construction of destroyers and amphibious transport ships.
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