Keel laying ceremony for the future Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship USNS Cody.

According to information published by the U.S. Navy on January 27, 2022, the keel for the future USNS Cody, Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship (EPF 14), the first of the Spearhead-class EPF Flight II configuration, was laid at Austal USA.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Lays keel of EPF USNS Cody (Picture source: Austal)

A keel-laying is the recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. It is the joining together of a ship’s modular components and the authentication or etching of an honoree’s initials into a ceremonial keel plate.

EPFs are operated by the Military Sealift Command and the USNS Cody is the first ship in naval service named after Cody, Wyoming.

The Spearhead-class is a series of Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ships built by the company Austal USA as part of the EPF program initiated by the US Navy.

The EPF is designed to transport 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles (2,225 km) at an average speed of 35 knots (65 km/h) in sea state 3.

The EPF is an aluminum twin-hull catamaran shell containing four diesel engines, rudimentary facilities for up to 40 crewmembers, and 312 airline-style passenger seats. The class has a length of 103 m, a beam of 28.5 m, a draft of 3.83 m, and a displacement of 1,515 tons.