General Dynamics NASSCO and Fincantieri’s Canadian subsidiary Vard Marine have received contracts to provide preliminary design and concept services for the U.S. Navy’s Next Generation Logistics Ship (NGLS) program. The NGLS, also referred to as the Light Replenishment Oiler or TAOL program, aims to establish a new fleet of medium-sized vessels that will enhance logistics, replenishment, and humanitarian missions in challenging environments, supplementing the capabilities of larger auxiliary and oiler platforms.
The recent contracts reflect substantial financial commitments, with NASSCO awarded $3.9 million and Vard Marine receiving $4.5 million, as reported by Inside Defense. The NGLS program was initiated in 2020 to ensure the U.S. Navy can maintain an efficient operational presence across global maritime domains.
A notice from the U.S. Navy highlighted the necessity for a single ship type to be developed with a “cost-effective” structure that ensures reliable performance in diverse operational contexts. This ship is intended to support both Navy and U.S. Marine Corps requirements, both at sea and ashore.
The Navy’s directive for the contractors includes conducting a global market survey for replenishment ships that could potentially be constructed in U.S. shipyards. This assessment aims to evaluate the feasibility and affordability of current NGLS requirements while also ensuring compliance with the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act’s basic and functional design standards.
Sources have indicated that Vard Marine will conduct its portion of the work at its facility located in Houston, Texas, collaborating with Hanwha Defense USA to facilitate this development process. Following these initial design contracts, the U.S. government is expected to grant a more detailed design and construction contract by 2028.
Under the NGLS program, the government has plans to build a total of 13 vessels, marking a significant investment in enhancing naval logistics capabilities to meet operational demands in various maritime environments.
