The future USNS Billy Frank Jr. — the first steel ship constructed at Austal USA in downtown Mobile — took to the water this week.
The newly launched vessel is a Navy Towing, Salvage and Rescue ship, the first off the company’s new steel panel line and the first of three T-ATS ships under contract.
“It was amazing to see the flawless rollout of our first steel ship,” said Harley Combs, vice president of surface ship programs. “The completion of this milestone is the result of the hard work and dedication of our talented workforce. I am so proud of all they have accomplished.”
The ship, weighing 3,100 metric tons, is the heaviest to date at Austal, which built aluminum-hulled ships through its first years.
It is capable of towing other Navy ships and has a 6,000-square-foot unobstructed deck, allowing versatility to handle an array of tasks from oil spill response to humanitarian aid to search and surveillance activities.
At launch time the ship is 85% complete, Austal notes, and awaits sea trials and delivery.
