Austal vessel completes Acceptance Trials
The first-in-class Joint High Speed Vessel USNS ‘Spearhead’ (JHSV 1), under construction at Austal USA’s Alabama shipyard, has successfully completed Acceptance Trials (AT) – the last milestone before delivery.
The US Navy carried out the ATs on the high-speed catamaran transport ship in the Gulf of Mexico. The tests demonstrated the overall performance of the ship’s major systems and equipment including the propulsion plant, ship handling and auxiliary systems. According to the Navy, the ship was presented with high levels of completion to the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
Brian Leathers, interim president and chief financial officer, Austal USA, said: “First-in-class ships are always a challenge but we are honoured to have been able to present a complete, functional vessel to INSURV and are looking forward to the delivery of this first-in-class ship to the Navy soon.”
General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, the ship systems integrator, is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the USNS Spearhead’s electronic systems.
Austal is currently under contract with the US Navy to construct nine 103m JHSVs under a 10 ship US$1.6bn contract and five 127m Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class vessels.
The USNS Spearhead is expected to be delivered over the coming months.
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