The US Navy has accepted delivery of its tenth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF 10) – the future USNS Burlington – from Austal USA.

The vessel was delivered in a ceremony on November 15.

Burlington was delivered as part of a US$1.9 billion contract for 12 vessels and is the fourth ship Austal has delivered to the Navy in 2018.

EPF’s are non-combatant vessels designed to operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, increasing operational flexibility for a wide range of activities including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for rapid transport.

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

USNS Burlington will be owned and operated by the Military Sealift Command and will support a variety of missions including overseas contingency operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, special operations forces, and supporting emerging joint sea-basing concepts.

The 103 meter long Burlington is an aluminium catamaran capable of transporting 600 tons, 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. The ship’s flight deck can support flight operations for a variety of manned and unmanned aircraft, including a CH-53 Super Stallion.

Burlington was constructed by Austal USA which is currently in production on Puerto Rico (EPF 11) and Newport (EPF 12). The company was awarded a contract in October 2018 for long lead time material to support construction of EPF 13 which is planned to commence fabrication in late 2019.