JUDGE DELAYS SEAWOLF CONTRACT

A US District Court judge issued a temporary restraining order halting the Navy from awarding the newest Seawolf nuclear submarine contract until May 17. Judge Robert Doumar's order affords Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company another opportunity to capture the contract.

The shipyard's attorneys must now prove that the Navy unlawfully directed the contract to General Dynamics. If they win, their clients will snare a contract worth about $700 million and avoid the loss of more than 12,000 jobs.