A keel laying is the popularity of the beginning of a ship’s building. It’s the becoming a member of collectively of a ship’s modular parts and the authentication or etching of an honoree’s initials right into a ceremonial keel plate. The ship’s sponsor, the Honorable Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, etched her initials into the keel plate.
“We’re excited to rejoice this milestone as we work to deliver one other oiler to the fleet to help at-sea operations,” stated Jana Polzin, deputy program supervisor, Auxiliary and Particular Mission Shipbuilding Program Workplace. “The USNS Robert F. Kennedy will deliver important contributions to the fleet as the first gasoline pipeline to refuel ships at sea.”
USNS Robert F. Kennedy relies on industrial design requirements and can recapitalize the present T-AO 187 Class Fleet Replenishment Oilers to supply underway replenishment of gasoline to U.S. Navy ships and jet gasoline for plane assigned to plane carriers.
The oilers function substantial quantity for oil, a big dry cargo capability, aviation functionality and a velocity of 20 knots. NASSCO designed the brand new vessels with double hulls to guard in opposition to oil spills and strengthened cargo and ballast tanks. The brand new T-AOs will add capability to the Navy’s Fight Logistics Drive and grow to be the cornerstone of the gasoline supply system.
NASSCO is presently in manufacturing on the longer term USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209) in addition to in manufacturing on two Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESB) – the longer term USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) and USS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7). In addition they have the longer term USNS Sojourner Fact (T-AO 210), the longer term USNS Thurgood Marshall (T-AO 211) and the longer term USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212) in addition to ESB 8 beneath contract.
As one of many Protection Division’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is chargeable for executing the event and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, particular mission and help ships, and boats and craft.
