Austal USA has confirmed the start of construction on the future USNS James D. Fairbanks (T-ATS 13), the third of five new Navajo-class search and rescue towboats being built by the shipyard for the U.S. Navy. Currently, the other two vessels under the contract signed in June 2023 are in various stages of construction. These are the USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11) and the USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12), both of which began construction late last year.
This contract, valued at USD 79.2 million, aims to replace the Safeguard and Powhatan-class fleet with the new generation Navajo-class towboats. These vessels are primarily tasked with high-seas search and rescue missions for stranded or disabled vessels. They have a displacement of over 5,000 tons, a length of 80 meters, and a beam of 59 meters. Each vessel accommodates a crew of 42 sailors and has an operational range of approximately 9,400 nautical miles.
Austal expressed optimism about the project, with Dave Growden, Vice President of New Construction at Austal USA, stating, “It’s exciting to see another ship start to take shape on our steel production line, which has been busy since we opened it just over two years ago. I’m proud of how our workforce has handled the diverse workload we’ve taken on since the steel line was activated.”
Regarding T-ATS 13, the vessel is named in honor of James D. Fairbanks, recognized for his distinguished service with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines at Camp Pendleton and two tours with the Navy, including Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was awarded the Bronze Star. Fairbanks was also commended for his service with the Seabees, the Navy’s renowned construction battalion, as detailed in Austal’s official announcement.
*Photographs used for illustrative purposes: USNS Navajo, the first vessel of the Navajo class – Credits US Navy.
You may also like: The U.S. aircraft carrier USS George Washington was escorted by ships of the Ecuadorian Navy
