Austal USA celebrated the start of construction of the Navy’s final Expeditionary Fast Transport, the future USNS Lansing (EPF 16), with a keel laying ceremony recently at the company’s Mobile, Ala. shipyard.
Keel laying is the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction. At Austal USA, keel laying symbolically recognizes module erection in final assembly and the ceremonial beginning of a ship. The first module for EPF 16 was moved into the assembly bay just days after USNS Point Loma (EPF 15) was rolled out of the bay in preparation for launch on Aug. 27.
The ships are used for expedited transportation of cargo, equipment, and personnel. The 338'x96.5'x12.5' catamaran is equipped to handle specialized missions, pre-position combat supplies at sea, and dock at impaired or damaged ports as necessary.
EPFs are powered by four Rolls Royce 20V8000 M71L diesel engines. The four gearboxes are ZF 60000NR2H. The vessel can average 35 knots.
“This ship highlights the success and importance of our maritime statecraft initiative, encompassing a national, whole-of-government effort to restore the comprehensive maritime power of our Nation,” Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, said in his comments. “The future USNS Lansing is named for the capital city of the state that is a leader in developing the techno-industrial workforce we need to build and assemble the ships, munitions, parts, and pieces our Naval fleet requires, and where, last month, the sponsor, Governor Whitmer and I announced the M3 initiative.”
Ship sponsor Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, with the assistance of Emija Coleman, a nine-year Austal USA veteran welder, authenticated the keel by welding her initials into a keel plate that will be welded to the hull of the ship.“
It’s a tremendous honor to work with the men and women of Austal USA in the construction of these great ships,” said Dave Growden, the shipyard’s vice president of new construction. “Together, thanks to the support of the Navy, our suppliers, and our local, state, and federal delegations, we are able to celebrate this major milestone for this amazing Navy ship.”
The Lansing is named after the capital city of Michigan, known as the Great Lakes State. Even though this is the first Navy ship named for the city of Lansing, there have been 32 ships named after the state of Michigan, its cities, places and people. The first iron-hulled ship in the Navy was also the first naval warship to bear the name Michigan and was commissioned in 1844 for service on the Great Lakes.
EPF 16 is the third and final EPF Flight II ship built by Austal USA in Mobile. EPF Flight II provides a Role 2E (enhanced) medical capability which includes, among other capabilities, basic secondary health care built around primary surgery; intensive care unit; ward beds; and limited x-ray, laboratory and dental support.
The EPF’s catamaran hull is designed to provide inherent stability to allow surgeons to perform underway medical procedures in the ship’s operating suite. Enhanced capabilities to support V-22 flight operations and launch and recover 11-meter RIBs complement the ship’s medical facilities. The Flight II configuration will enhance current EPF capabilities by including a combined forward resuscitative care capability with a limited Intensive Care Unit and medical ward, while maintaining most of the original requirements of the ship.
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