Austal USA has successfully christened the US Navy’s latest addition to its fleet, the USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11), during a ceremony held in Mobile, Alabama. This vessel represents the sixth ship of the Navajo-class towing, salvage, and rescue vessels, a part of a broader initiative aimed at replacing the aging Powhatan-class ocean tugs and Safeguard-class rescue vessels that have been serving since the 1980s.
The USNS Billy Frank Jr. is named in honor of a prominent Nisqually tribal member and Korean War veteran. Known for his extensive humanitarian work, Billy Frank Jr. received notable accolades including the Albert Schweitzer Prize for humanitarianism, the Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award, and the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom for his over thirty-year dedication to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
Upon its commissioning, the Billy Frank Jr. will perform essential fleet assistance operations akin to those of its predecessors. Additionally, the vessel and its sister ships are equipped to execute a range of tasks that include open ocean intelligence gathering, oil spill response, and humanitarian missions.
The Billy Frank Jr. is part of a series of five Navajo ships contracted from Austal USA, while the initial five vessels in this series were ordered from Bollinger Shipyards, a key industry partner.
In terms of specifications, a Navajo-class vessel measures 80 meters (263 feet) in length and has a beam of 18 meters (59 feet). It is constructed to accommodate a crew of up to 65 personnel and features a generous deck space covering 557 square meters (6,000 square feet) for transporting vehicles and equipment. Furthermore, the vessel is powered by two Wartsila diesel engines, each delivering 6,300 horsepower, capable of propelling the ship to speeds of up to 15 knots (28 kilometers/17 miles per hour) and providing a range exceeding 8,100 nautical miles (15,001 kilometers/9,321 miles).
The christening of the USNS Billy Frank Jr. marks a significant milestone in the ongoing modernization of the U.S. Navy’s salvage and rescue capabilities, ensuring that the fleet remains equipped to handle diverse maritime challenges.
