The U.S. Navy christened its ninth expeditionary fast transport vessel, USNS City of Bismarck, during a ceremony at Austal’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard, on May 14.
USNS City of Bismarck is the ninth of overall 12 EPF vessels Austal is contracted to build for the U.S. Navy.
Austal USA has delivered eight EPF so far, with five now deployed by the United States Military Sealift Command.
Formerly known as joint high speed vessels (JHSV), the 103 metre EPF are shallow draft all-aluminium catamarans that serve as non-combatant transport vessels. EPF is designed to transport 600 short tons of military cargo 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots in sea state 3.
USNS City of Bismarck is the first vessel in naval history to be named in honor of North Dakota’s capital.