JHSV
6, a 338-foot shallow draft aluminum catamaran, is a multi-mission,
non-combatant transport vessel characterized by its high volume, high
speed, and flexibility. It is the fourth ship to be named Brunswick
after the seaport city located on the southeast coast of Georgia. The
city of Brunswick played an important role during World War II as the
site of a 435-acre shipyard that employed up to 16,000 workers at its
peak. The yard produced 99 Liberty ships by the end of the war.
“Brunswick displays American values of community, hospitality
and resourcefulness at their very best,” said Secretary of the
Navy Ray Mabus. “I chose to name the Joint High Speed Vessel after
Brunswick to honor those values and the men and women of the city, as
well as the state of Georgia."
“Brunswick is the result of the successful industry/DOD partnership
that has developed between Austal USA, Military Sealift Command, and
the Navy,” said Craig Perciavalle, president of Austal USA. “We’re
very excited about how stable and mature the JHSV program has become
as we prepare JHSV 6 for trials and delivery in the fall.”
Brunswick will soon join her sister JHSV’s that have been delivered
over the last two-and-a-half years including USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1)
which is deep into her second deployment since she was delivered in
2012.
“The fast-growing JHSV fleet has proven to be flexible in ways
we didn’t even consider when this program first started,”
said Perciavalle, “Without the dedication and pride of the hard-working
individuals that make up Austal’s awesome shipbuilding team, this
program wouldn’t be experiencing the success we’re celebrating
today.”
The ship’s sponsor, Alma Booterbaugh, joined the immediate office
of the Secretary of the Navy in 1999 and she is currently the Office
Manager and Scheduler for the Secretary of the Navy. Booterbaugh has
been a civil servant for over 30 years with the Federal Government and
is the recipient of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award and
three Navy Superior Civilian Service Awards. Booterbaugh was joined
on stage today by her daughter, USNS Brunswick’s Maid of Honor,
Brittany Booterbaugh.
More than 300 naval guests, civic leaders, community members and Austal
employees attended the ceremony held beneath the hull of Brunswick in
the Austal final assembly bay. |
