Austal completes successful acceptance trials on sixth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF 6)
MOBILE, Ala. – Austal completed successful acceptance sea trials on USNS Brunswick, Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF 6), Oct.23, in the Gulf of Mexico. The Brunswick is slated for delivery to the US Navy by the end of the year and is the sixth ship in Austal’s 10-ship $1.6 billion block-buy contract awarded by the U.S. Navy in 2008.
“We’re proud to have successfully completed acceptance trials for USNS Brunswick, and excited to see the continued improvement ship to ship on this mature program,” said Craig Perciavalle, Austal USA’s president. “Austal’s EPF team continues to do a tremendous job constructing incredible ships and preparing them to enter the fleet.”
This milestone achievement involved the execution of intense comprehensive tests by the Austal-led industry team while underway, which demonstrated to the Navy the successful operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment. Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship, which is expected later this year.
Austal’s EPF program is steadily maturing with five ships delivered and three more under construction at the Mobile, Ala. facility. The 338-ft Spearhead-class EPF is currently providing high-speed, high-payload transport capability to fleet and combatant commanders. The EPF’s large, open mission deck and large habitability spaces provide the opportunity to conduct a wide range of missions – from engagement and humanitarian assistance or disaster relief missions being conducted today to the possibility of supporting a range of future missions including special operations support, command and control, and medical support operations. With its ability to access austere and degraded ports with minimal external assistance, the EPF provides unique options to fleet and combatant commanders.
“We’re excited about the feedback we’re receiving about how well these ships are doing on deployment and about the overall potential of the program,” said Perciavalle.
In addition to the EPF program, Austal is also building 10 Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) for the U.S. Navy under a $3.5 billion block-buy contract. Three LCS have been delivered while an additional six are in various stages of construction.
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