Austal USA to Build Fifth Navajo-Class Salvage Ship for the U.S. Navy

Austal USA has been awarded a fixed-price incentive contract option from the U.S. Navy worth US $71.7 million for the construction of a fifth Navajo-class Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship.

The company is now contracted for five T-ATS vessels, having received awards for T-ATS 13 and 14 in July 2022, and T-ATS 11 and 12 in October 2021.

The Navajo-class will focus on long-range towing, rescue, and salvage missions for the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command. They will also provide humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, and oil spill response. The Navajo-class is intended to replace the T-ATF fleet ocean tugs and the T-ARS rescue and salvage ships in the U.S. Navy.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the contract award shows how Austal USA’s steel shipbuilding capability is growing. This comes after the beginning of construction on T-ATS 11 and 12, and more recently the Auxiliary Floating Dock Medium, for the United States Navy.

“Three steel vessels are now being constructed in Mobile, Alabama, along with multiple aluminium vessels and component projects,” Gregg said.

Bollinger Shipyards has been contracted for the first five vessels in the class, including the Navajo (T-ATS 6), Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7), and Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS 8), which are already under construction.

Bollinger acquired the T-ATS program in April 2021 from Gulf Island Shipyards in a deal that included Gulf Island’s Houma shipyard facilities. It launchd the lead ship in the class in May.

In addition to T-ATS, Austal USA is currently constructing the United States Navy’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport ships and has commenced construction of a 211-metere steel Auxiliary Floating Drydock (Medium).

In May 2023, Austal USA was awarded a contract worth up to $3.2 billion for the detail design and construction of up to 7 steel T-AGOS Ocean Surveillance Ships. In 2022, the company was also awarded a contract worth up to $3.3 billion for the construction of up to 11 steel Offshore Patrol Cutters for the United States Coast Guard.

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