Austal USA Launches First Steel Ship, USNS Billy Frank Jr.
Austal USA, known for its aluminum vessels, has achieved a significant milestone with the rollout and launch of its first steel ship, the future USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11). This marks a pivotal moment in the company’s shipbuilding operations as it transitions into steel construction in response to the U.S. Navy’s concerns over the durability of lighter-weight aluminum vessels.
The launch of USNS Billy Frank Jr. signifies Austal’s foray into steel construction and showcases its newly developed automated steel panel line. With the Navy’s decision to return to all steel construction, Austal received support from the Department of Defense, including a $50 million matching grant to enhance its steel naval vessel construction capabilities at its Mobile shipyard.
Commencing in July 2022, the construction of the steel line at the Mobile facility kickstarted the Navy Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship program, with Austal USA securing a contract for three hulls as its first steel project. The rollout of the inaugural vessel took place on June 14 in Mobile, marking a significant achievement for the shipyard.
The USNS Billy Frank Jr., weighing 3,100 metric tons, is Austal USA’s heaviest launch to date. The ship launch process involved rolling the vessel onto a moored deck barge and transferring it to a floating dry dock for submersion, allowing the ship to float for the first time before being moored pier-side.
The ship was over 85% complete at the time of launch, with preparations underway for the engine light off, sea trials, and eventual delivery. The T-ATS 11 will provide ocean-going towing, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support fleet operations, featuring a multi-mission common hull platform with ample deck space for various systems.
Future Missions and Capabilities
The T-ATS class is designed to fulfill a range of missions, including towing, salvage, rescue, oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, and search and surveillance operations. It combines the capabilities of the retiring Rescue and Salvage Ship and Fleet Ocean Tug platforms, with provisions for supporting modular payloads and rapid capability initiatives.
Following the successful launch of the USNS Billy Frank Jr., Austal secured a $3 billion contract for seven ocean surveillance ships for the U.S. Navy in 2023. Additionally, the yard won contracts for the Navy’s Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium and secured follow-on hulls for the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter program.
The integration of steel construction capabilities is crucial for Austal as it completes the delivery of its final Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Pierre (LCS-38). This milestone marks the culmination of over a decade of work on the series, highlighting Austal’s evolution to meet the evolving needs of the U.S. Navy.