Advertisement

US NAVY: Forward thinking

The US Navy has modified its requirement for three Mobile Landing Platforms by opting to complete the third ship on order as an Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB). The switch in primary role from a pure semi-submersible heavy-lift ship into a more flexible platform designed to facilitate airborne mine countermeasures and support special operations will cost an extra US$129 million. The design changes will see the addition of a large flight deck and accommodation for 250 personnel.

When ‘forward deployed’, the AFSB will provide a floating base for MH-53 Sea Dragon minesweeping helicopters and Avenger class minesweepers to be refuelled, repaired, and rested during mine countermeasure operations. The ship, to be named USNS Lewis B. Puller after the US Marine Corps’ most decorated marine, was laid downat NASSCO’s San Diego shipyard in November 2013. Delivery is scheduledfor the second quarter of 2015. An option for a second AFSB is likely to be taken.

Ships Montly - January 2024

Storylines and Brodosplit shipyard renew ship building contract for residence ship

Storylines, a pioneering company in the residential ship industry, has renewed a shipbuilding contract with Brodosplit shipyard based in Split, Croatia, to construct the...
Advertisement

Related articles

Storylines and Brodosplit shipyard renew ship building contract for residence ship

Storylines, a pioneering company in the residential ship industry, has renewed a shipbuilding contract with Brodosplit shipyard based...

World’s oldest cable layer in Greece

Celebrating her 115th birthday this year is the Greek cable laying ship Thalis o Milisios (Thales of Miletus),...

Damen to deliver two ASD Tugs 3010 to Norway

On 20 February 2024 Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with BOA Group for two ASD Tugs 3010...

New partnership between Maersk Supply Service and Edison Chouest Offshore

A bew partnership between Maersk Supply Service and Edison Chouest Offshore is intended to enable faster offshore wind...