USA: General Dynamics NASSCO has been awarded a US$3.5 million design contract for the US Navy's Mobile Landing Ship (MLP) programme.
Under the contract, NASSCO will develop a preliminary ship design based on US Navy requirements. A contract for the detailed design and construction of up to three ships could be awarded next year.
The MLP is a new class of auxiliary ship for the Navy's Maritime Prepositioning Force of the Future (MPF(F)) programme. The ship is intended to serve as a transfer station or "floating pier at sea," improving the US military's ability to deliver equipment and cargo to areas where port access is limited or unavailable. Early requirements of the ship include the ability to land helicopters, a facility for the operation of air cushioned landing crafts (LCACs), and the capability for ship-to-ship transfer of equipment from large-draught prepositioning ships to others vessels, including T-AKE ships.