Austal hosts christening of USNS Yuma
Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) on August 21 held an official christening ceremony for Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel USNS Yuma (T-EPF-8) at Austal USA’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard, the shipbuilding company said in its press release.
Ship sponsor Mrs Janet Napolitano, former Governor of Arizona and current President of the University of California, joined distinguished guests from the US Navy, State and Local Government, Austal USA management and employees for the christening ceremony, held beneath the hull of the ship in the final assembly bay.
USNS Yuma is the eighth of 10 Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels (EPF) that Austal USA is delivering under a contract with the U.S. Navy valued in excess of US$1.6 billion.
“On behalf of Austal USA’s shipbuilding team - one of the most talented that I’ve ever worked with - we are proud to provide our Navy with an incredible vessel that will honour the great city of Yuma as she supports humanitarian efforts the world over” said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle.
“The EPF program has matured very well and we are confident that the EPF fleet will continue to serve our Navy as a highly flexible platform”, Mr Perciavalle added.
EPF 8, a 103 metre, shallow draft all-aluminium catamaran, is a multi-mission, non-combatant transport vessel characterized by its high volume, high speed, and flexibility. It is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named Yuma as a tribute to the residents of the Arizona city and their close ties with the military.
USNS Yuma will ultimately join her sister EPF’s that have been delivered over the last three years, including USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) which has logged over 100,000 nautical miles at sea and is currently on her fifth deployment since she was delivered in 2012.
Three more EPF’s and seven Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are currently under construction at Austal USA. Next month, the shipyard is scheduled to launch USNS Yuma, while the future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) will undergo builder’s sea trials.
About Austal
Austal is a global defence prime contractor and a designer and manufacturer of defence and commercial ships. For more than 27 years Austal has been a leader in the design, construction and maintenance of ships for governments, navies and ferry operators around the world and Austal has delivered in excess of 255 vessels to over 100 operators in 44 countries. Austal's shipbuilding facilities are located in Australia, the USA and the Philippines.
