Page 52: of Marine News Magazine (June 2020)

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VESSELS

Gulf Island to Build Another Two Vessels for the US Navy 6,000 square feet of deck space for em- barked systems. The platform will be 263 feet long, have a beam of 59 feet, and can carry a load of 1,796 tons.

The builder held a keel laying ceremo- ny for the ?rst ship in the series, the fu- ture USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), in Octo- ber 2019. The lead vessel is expected to be completed in March 2021.

“We are honored that the Navy has exercised the options for two additional

U.S. Navy vessels. This is great news for our em-

The U.S. Navy has exercised its op- ing three T-ATF 166 and two T-ARS 50 ployees in Houma, La. as it will provide tions to order the fourth and ?fth tow- class ships, which reach the end of their additional stability during these un- ing, salvage and rescue ships (T-ATS) expected service lives starting in 2020. certain times,” said Richard Heo, Gulf from Houma, La. shipbuilder Gulf Is- A detail design and construction con- Island’s President and Chief Executive land Fabrication. The Navy has remain- tract was awarded to Gulf Island in March Of?cer. “These projects support our ing options for three additional vessels. 2018 based on the Wärtsilä VS 4612 an- ongoing efforts to diversify our backlog

The Navajo-class vessels will provide chor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel beyond offshore oil and gas and provide oceangoing tug, salvage and rescue capa- design. Navajo-class ships will be capable valuable underpinning work for our bilities to support ?eet operations, replac- of towing U.S. Navy ships and will have Houma team into 2021 and 2022.”

US Navy’s Newest Yard Tug Launched

The U.S. Navy’s ?rst Yard Tug (YT) 808 class vessel was launched at Dakota

Creek Industries’ (DCI) shipyard on May 16. The Navy and DCI plan to conduct acceptance trials for the vessel in July, fol- lowed by planned delivery in August.

The new tug is the ?rst in a series of six being built by the Anacortes, Wash. shipbuilder for scheduled delivery through early 2022.

The YT 808 vessels are designed by

U.S. Navy

Robert Allan Ltd. after the Navy’s exist- ing YT 802 Valiant-class tugs to perform mately 40 metric tons. from alongside ships or submarines.

towing and ship-handling duties for The tugs are out?tted with a hydraulic “This is an exciting milestone for this carriers, surface ships, submarines and hawser winch and staple on the forward program as the YT 808 class tugs will barges. Built to commercial ABS stan- deck for towing, and an “H” bitt installed replace the tugs built in 1964 through dards, the 90- by 38-foot tugs feature an on the aft deck with an adjacent hydrau- 1975,” said Mike Kosar, program man- updated deck house, EPA Tier IV CAT lic capstan for tightening lines. Similar ager of Support Ships, Boats, and Craft 3512E Main engines, Schottel 1012 Z- to the previous 802 Class, the new YT Program Of?ce, Program Executive Of-

Drives and a new fendering system, and 808 Class tugs will have an articulating ?ce Ships (PEO Ships). “With ?ve more will have a top speed of approximately hydraulic brow installed aft of the deck- in the pipeline, we’re excited to get these 11.7 knots and a bollard pull of approxi- house to allow personnel transfers to and tugs underway and operational.”

June 2020 52 MN