Fourth National Security Multi-Mission Vessel launched

Hanwha Philly Shipyard has launched the fourth of five new ships as part of the Maritime Administration’s (Marad) National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program. The 525'1"x88'7"x21'4" newbuilds are specifically designed to serve as training vessels for the nation’s state maritime academies.

NSMV IV, to be named Lone Star State, was floated out from the Philadelphia shipbuilder's facilities on Saturday. Over the coming months, interior outfitting work will be completed on board NSMV IV ahead of sea trials and scheduled delivery to the Texas A&M Maritime Academy in Galveston, Texas, later this year. 

The first two NSMVs, Empire State and Patriot State, were delivered to SUNY Maritime College in 2023 and Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 2024, respectively.

Interior outfitting work is currently underway aboard NSMV III, State of Maine, which is slated for delivery to Maine Maritime Academy this year. NSMV V, Golden State, is currently being built on land and is scheduled to be handed over to California State University Maritime Academy in 2026.

Each ship in the series is equipped with diesel electric propulsion with 16,800 kW of total installed power plus a 900-kW emergency generator. Full speed is 18 knots.

Each NSMV is designed to house numerous instructional spaces, a full training bridge, and accommodations for up to 600 cadets to train in a maritime academic environment at sea.

In addition, each vessel features hospital facilities, a helicopter pad and the ability to accommodate up to 1,000 people in times of humanitarian need. The NSMVs can also provide roll-on/roll-off and container storage capacity for use during disaster relief missions.

The NSMV shipbuilding program is the U.S.'s first to use the vessel construction manager (VCM) model. This approach places responsibility for selecting and overseeing the shipyard with a government contractor, who applies commercial best practices to manage the project.

In 2019, Marad awarded TOTE Services a contract to serve as the VCM for the NSMV program. In 2020, Philly Shipyard was contracted to build the first two vessels. The next two vessels were ordered in 2021, with the fifth and final vessel following in 2022.