Austal delivers 12th Spearhead-class EPF to US Navy

Shipbuilder Austal has delivered expeditionary fast transport vessel USNS Newport (EPF 12) to the US Navy from its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

USNS Newport is the twelfth Spearhead-class EPF ship to be delivered to the US Navy – and brings the total number of ships delivered to the navy by Austal USA to 24 in ten years, including three this year.

The keel laying ceremony for the ship was held in January last year and the launching in February 2020.

The Spearhead-class EPF is a 103-metre high-speed aluminium catamaran with a large, 1800 square metre cargo deck, medium-lift helicopter deck and seating for 300+ embarked troops; providing a fast, high-payload transport capability to combatant commanders around the world.

The Austal-designed EPFs support a wide range of missions – from maritime security operations to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. An EPF’s flexibility also allows it to support potential future missions; such as special operations, command and control, and primary medical operations.

One additional Spearhead-class EPF is under construction at Austal USA’s shipyard; the future USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13), while the future USNS Cody (EPF 14) is scheduled to commence construction before the end of the year.