Austal USA, a shipbuilder with a massive plant in Mobile, announced on Thursday that is has delivered its 12th expeditionary fast transport (EPF) ship for use by the United States Navy.
USNS Newport, the official name for the ship, is the 22nd total vessel Austal has delivered to the Navy in the last seven years, and the third in 2020 alone.
The Newport is a 338-foot high-speed catamaran in the Spearhead-class of EPFs.
Austal says that it “provides high-payload transport capability to U.S. combatant commanders around the world and adds incredible speed and versatility to the fleet.”
Austal also produces Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) for the Navy, and christened the future USS Savannah – a ship of that type – earlier this week.
The shipbuilder is under contract for two more Spearhead-class EPFs. Modules for one of the two are already being produced while the second is set to begin construction before the end of the year.
“These EPFs play an important role in supporting our nation’s defense as evidenced by the multitude of significant missions EPFs have fulfilled globally since the Navy took delivery of USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) in 2012,” Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle said in a statement on Thursday.
EPF’s have broad dimensions that allow them to be used for support missions like humanitarian aid and disaster relief in addition to maritime security.
“We’re proud to be able to provide the Navy with this highly capable ship,” Perciavalle remarked about the USNS Newport on Thursday.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
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