Bath Iron Works is getting a $113 million contract to help build a new class of warship, U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said Thursday.

The Navy awarded BIW and Litton Avondale Industries of Metarie, La., the contract to build up to 12 of the new amphibious transport ships.

BIW will build four of the ships and receive $56 million of the contract, Snowe said.

The LPD-19 can carry about 720 Marines and one or more amphibious landing craft used to carry troops ashore.

“Construction of these amphibious transport vessels marks an exciting new area of expertise for Bath Iron Works – and the culmination of a thorough and competitive design process for the Marine Corps and the Navy,” Snowe said.

The ships have updated stealth and computer technologies, and are better suited to accommodating female service members, Snowe said.