PORTLAND – Rep. Tom Allen trumpeted a report that the Navy plans to award contracts for six DDG-51 destroyers to Bath Iron Works. He said it vindicates his support for the program and his reluctance to pin the yard’s future on a newer ship.

Meeting with reporters in Portland on Wednesday, Allen quoted the trade publication Inside the Navy as saying the Northrop Grumman yard in Mississippi will be getting two of the DDG-51s.

The Democrat criticized Republican Sen. Susan Collins, his opponent in the Senate race, for advocacy for the newer DDG-1000 destroyer, a program that is being halted after three ships. He said the older destroyer is in line with national security needs and promises to provide an uninterrupted workload for BIW.