General
Dynamics NASSCO on October 24 delivered USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14)
to the U.S. Navy, marking the completion of a highly successful U.S.
shipbuilding program that has spanned more than a decade.
USNS Cesar Chavez is the fourteenth and final ship of the T-AKE class
of dry cargo ammunition ships built by General Dynamics NASSCO for the
U.S. Navy. NASSCO began constructing the 689-foot-long ship in October
2010, incorporating international marine technologies and commercial
ship-design features, to minimize operating costs over its projected
40-year service life. With a 79.2-percent ship-over-ship learning curve,
the T-AKE Program is among the most efficient shipbuilding programs
in the United States. |
|
"This
is an exciting day for the American shipbuilding industry and the U.S.
Navy, as T-AKE 14 joins a distinguished tradition of NASSCO-built ships
supporting the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps," said Fred Harris, president
of General Dynamics NASSCO. "As demonstrated on our successful
sea trials three weeks ago, the Cesar Chavez is ready for immediate
service to our nation."
T-AKE 14 is an extremely capable auxiliary ship that is equipped to
fulfill a variety of U.S. Navy global combat logistics requirements.
With a cargo capacity of more than 10,000 tons, the primary mission
of USNS Cesar Chavez will be to deliver food, ammunition, fuel and other
provisions from shore stations to combat ships at sea. |
