Bollinger Shipyards has kicked off the construction of a new US Navy’s Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship (T-ATS).
As informed, the construction started last week with a traditional steel-cutting ceremony. USNS MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION is the tenth Navajo-class T-ATS and the fifth Bollinger-built T-ATS.
The ships will replace the ageing Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ships and Powhatan-class tugboats.
Bollinger Shipyards received a contract to build the T-ATS in April 2021.
“Bollinger is honored to be entrusted by the Navy to build the Navajo-class Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship. We’re excited to be able to utilize our newly acquired facility in Pascagoula to maximize our mobility and efficiency on the T-ATS program as we officially kick off construction on the fifth of five T-ATS ships to be built by Bollinger,” said Ben Bordelon , President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards.
“The T-ATS program is an important part of our expanding portfolio and relationship with the Navy as we work to support critical fleet modernization efforts. Maximizing Bollinger Shipyards resources across the Gulf Coast is something we’re incredibly proud of. This program sustains jobs in both our facilities between Houma and Pascagoula.”
The Navajo-class provides ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support fleet operations, and 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.
Named for the Muscogee Creek Nation, the ship honors the self-governed Native American tribe located in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
In addition to T-ATS 10, Bollinger is constructing USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7), USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS 8) and the USNS Lenni Lenape (T-ATS 9).