The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Burlington (EPF-10) from Austal USA on Nov. 15.

The EPFs are non-combat ships geared to on and off-load personnel and vehicles in shallow-draft ports and waterways. The ship can hold up to one fully loaded Abrams tank, has a flight deck, and airline-type seating for up to 312 embarked forces.

The U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel USNS City of Bismarck (EPF-9) is launched in Mobile, Ala. On June 7, 2017. (Photo: David Stoltz, U.S. Navy).
The U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel USNS City of Bismarck (EPF-9) is launched in Mobile, Ala. On June 7, 2017. (Photo: David Stoltz, U.S. Navy).

The Burlington will be operated by Military Sealift Command and support missions including humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, special operations forces, and emerging joint sea-basing concepts.

“Burlington will provide tremendous flexibility to combatant commanders in the fleet. EPF 10 will enhance our forward presence and provide a variety of capabilities to U.S. operations around the globe,” Capt. Scot Searles, program manager for Strategic and Theater Sealift within Program Executive Office Ships, said in a statement.

EPF-10 previously finished acceptance trials in August (Defense Daily, Aug. 3).

Austal USA builds the EPFs at its Mobile, Ala., shipyard and is finishing building the future USNS Puerto Rico (EPF-11) and Newport (EPF-12).

The company is on contract to build 12 EPFs worth over $1.9 billion total. Last month the Navy awarded Austal a $58 million contract for long-lead time material procurement and production engineering for another vessel, EPF-13 (Defense Daily, Oct. 19).

Relatedly, on Nov, 10 Austal USA christened the future USNS Puerto Rico during a ceremony at its Mobile shipyard.

“Austal is excited to christen another amazing ship. Puerto Rico is one step closer to joining her sister ships in supporting important missions across the globe,” Austal USA president Craig Perciavalle said in a statement.