Austal USA cuts first steel of future Navajo class T-ATS 12.

According to information published by Austal on January 31, 2023, the firm held the steel-cutting ceremony for the Navajo class rescue and salvage ship T-ATS 12.
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Steel cutting ceremony of the future Navajo class rescue and salvage ship T-ATS 12. (Picture source: Austal USA)

The Navajo class is a class of Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ships in the US Navy. They are the replacement for the Safeguard-class and Powhatan-class ships and the first batch of 6 ships was ordered in 2017, with the lead ship laid down in 2019.

Two more ships were ordered in 2020 and in 2021 Austal was awarded a $145 million contract to build 2 more ships, with options for up to 3 more. On July 23, 2022, two more Navajo-class ships were ordered from Austal.

The displacement is 5,110 long tons, the length is 263 ft, the beam is 59 ft, the draft is 17.7 ft, depth is 24.6 ft. The ships are powered by two Wartsila 8L32 diesel engines each producing 6308 horsepower and can reach speeds of 15.1 knots. They have a range of 8,170 nautical miles and a complement of 42 sailors.

Rescue and salvage ships (hull classification symbol ARS) are a type of military salvage tug. They are tasked with coming to the aid of stricken vessels. Their general mission capabilities include combat salvage, lifting, towing, retraction of grounded vessels, off-ship firefighting, and manned diving operations.