On October 1, 2012, Austal USA successfully completed the launch process of the second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), the recently christened USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2). This 103-metre high-speed catamaran represents the US Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform. It is part of a 10-ship program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion.
Brian Leathers, Austal USA Interim President and Chief Financial Officer commented: “ This is the ship’s first voyage, one of many in its future. Austal designed this ship to serve as a rapid transit workhorse for our military to assist in humanitarian efforts and to transport troops and their equipment from port to port. It is due to the important role that it will play in intra-theatre deployment / transportation that the Austal JHSV team takes such pride in our part in facilitating the success of the JHSV program .”
The launch of USNS Choctaw County was conducted in a multi-step process as follows:
This process was initially used during the launch event for the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship Coronado (LCS 4) in January 2012. A major improvement in safety and efficiency, the new roll-out method has reduced the time of the transfer process, and serves as a capstone in Austal’s effort to reduce cost and time required in future JHSV and LCS deliveries.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff,October 03, 2012; Image: Austal