Austal USA has been awarded a $156 million Navy contract for two Navajo-class Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ships (T-ATS).
With this contract, Austal will now produce four of these vessels. Austal was awarded a $144 million contract in October 2021, for construction of two T-ATS steel ships — T-ATS 11 and 12. The first of the T-ATS ships, T-ATS 11, is now under construction at Austal USA in Mobile.
The T-ATS provides ocean-going tug, salvage and rescue capabilities in support of the U.S. Navy fleet. These ships also are able to support current missions, including oil spill response, humanitarian assistance and wide area search and surveillance.
“The T-ATS program is special to our team as it represents the start of construction of a new class of ship for our shipbuilding team. This contract is important because it provides us the backlog to really optimize production over the course of these four ships,” said Rusty Murdaugh, Austal USA president.
Construction on T-ATS 13 and 14 will commence fall 2023 and spring 2024 with delivery planned for fall 2025 and spring 2026, respectively.
Austal USA opened its new steel line earlier this spring. The T-ATS 11 is the first ship to be produced on the steel line.
