![The US Navy Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Newport (Photo: Austal USA)](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F200907-4-USN.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
USNS Newport, the 12th Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport (EPF), has been handed over to the US Navy by Austal USA.
The vessel is a 103-metre high-speed aluminium catamaran with a large, 1,800-square-metre cargo deck, a medium-lift helicopter deck, and seating for 300 embarked troops.
As with its Spearhead-class sisters, Newport is also capable of performing humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) duties, command and control, and special warfare support missions.