The US Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Gulf Island Shipyards a $129.9 million contract modification for the construction of additional two towing, salvage and rescue ships (T-ATS).
Named Navajo-class, after the lead ship in the class, the 80-meter platforms are being built under a contract that was first signed in March 2018.
With the latest contract modification, the navy has exercised options for the fourth and fifth units in the class. The original contract includes options for a total of six ships to be built.
Gulf Island Shipyards will build the ships at its Houma, Louisiana, site, and is expected to complete work under the latest contract modification by October 2022.
Navajo-class ships will be capable of towing US Navy ships and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for embarked systems. The vessels have a beam of 17.9 meters, and can carry a load of nearly 2,000 tons.
The first three ships are named USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7), USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS 8).
