Austal Launches T-ATS 12

 Austal USA recently launched its first ship of the year and second U.S. Navy Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship (T-ATS), the future USNS Soloman Atkinson (T-ATS 12). Named after a Native American who was a plankowner of the Navy SEAL teams and one of the service’s most decorated Alaska Native sailors, the Soloman Atkinson is one of three T-ATS under construction at Austal in Mobile. T-ATSs will provide oceangoing towing, salvage and rescue capabilities to support fleet operations. The multimission common hull platform will be capable of towing U.S. Navy ships and have 6,000 ft² of deck space for embarked systems. The large, unobstructed deck allows for the embarkation of a variety of standalone and interchangeable systems. The platform will combine the capabilities of the retiring Rescue and Salvage Ship (T-ARS 50) and Fleet Ocean Tug (T-ATF 166) platforms. It also enables future rapid capability initiatives such as supporting modular payloads with hotel services and appropriate interfaces. With the ship more than 75% complete at the time of launch, T-ATS 12 will now prepare for her next major milestone, engine light off, as she gets ready for sea trials and delivery.