The US Navy has awarded Austal USA a US$145 million contract for the construction of two additional Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue (T-ATS) ships.
The contract modification establishes options for up to three additional T-ATS ships, which, if exercised, will bring the total cumulative value of the contract to US$385 million. Construction of the ships will take place as Austal's new steel shipbuilding facilities nearing completion in Mobile, Alabama.
Austal was initially awarded a US$3.6 million contract by the navy for the functional design of the Navajo-class vessels.
The Navajo-class T-ATS vessels will have ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities. Other missions will include oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, and wide area search and surveillance.