UPDATE 1-US to aid shipyard Northrop plans to close-lawmakers
September 16, 2010 at 19:06 PM EDT
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy will announce steps on Friday to accelerate shipbuilding orders and maintain work at Northrop Grumman Corp's Avondale, Louisiana shipyard, which the company plans to close by 2013, two Louisiana lawmakers said.