Austal USA has delivered the 12th Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship, USNS Newport (EPF 12), to the US Navy.
The company’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama delivered the vessel.
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Last month, the US Naval Sea Systems Command announced that the USNS Newport completed integrated sea trials.
Austal CEO David Singleton said: “Austal USA has now delivered 24 ships to the US Navy in just over ten years, including three in this year alone. This is a remarkable achievement and testament to the productivity and efficiency of the shipyard, which is now expanding to enable the shipbuilding and support of steel vessels.
“The ongoing, successful delivery of both the Spearhead-class EPF and Independence-class LCS shipbuilding programmes has positioned the Austal USA shipyard to pursue new aluminium and steel shipbuilding opportunities in the future.”
The EPF features a 1,800m² cargo deck, medium-lift helicopter deck and can accommodate over 300 seated embarked troops.
EPFs are developed to operate in shallow waterways and can be used for several missions, including disaster relief, support for special operations forces, command and control, and primary medical operations.
Austal USA has already started building the future USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13). The ship builder is also under contract to build the future USNS Cody (EPF 14), which will commence this year.
The company received a contract to deliver 19 Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), with 12 already delivered. Five ships are under construction, while construction of two more vessels is yet to commence.
