Construction begins on US Navy’s eighth Navajo-class towing and salvage vessel

Austal USA has cut the first steel for the future USNS James D. Fairbanks, the eighth Navajo-class towing, rescue and salvage ship (T-ATS) ordered by the US Navy. The vessel honours the late James D. Fairbanks, member of the Chippewa Tribe and the 13th Force Master Chief Petty Officer of the Naval Construction Battalions (“Seabees”).

The Navajo-class ships will be designed to support the US Navy’s fleet operations. They will replace and fulfill the capabilities that were previously provided by the navy’s Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug (T-ATF 166) and Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ships (T-ARS 50) class ships.

Each T-ATS will have a multi-mission common hull platform capable of towing heavy ships. The vessels will be capable of supporting a variety of missions including oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue (SAR), and surveillance.

The T-ATS will be operated by the Military Sealift Command. The naming selection of the future James D. Fairbanks follows the tradition of the Navajo-class of naming towing, salvage and rescue ships after prominent Native Americans or Native American tribes.