
General Dynamics' National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) [GD] on Dec. 5 laid the keel for the future USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208), the fourth John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler (T-AO 205). The keel laying marks the start of ship construction with the joining together of modular components. T-AO 208 aims to help recapitalize the current older Henry J. Kaiser-class replenishment oiler (T-AO-187). The oilers are operated by Military Sealift Command to provide up to 162,000 barrels of oil…