Austal Limited is pleased to announce the christening of Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel USNS Yuma (T-EPF-8) at a ceremony held at Austal USA’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard on Saturday, 20th August 2016.

Ship sponsor Mrs. Janet Napolitano, former Governor of Arizona and current President of the University of California, joined distinguished guests from the U.S. Navy, State and Local Government, Austal USA management and employees for the christening ceremony, held beneath the hull of the ship in the final assembly bay.

USNS Yuma (T-EPF-8) is the eighth of 10 Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels (EPF) that Austal USA is delivering under a contract with the U.S. Navy valued in excess of US$1.6 billion.

«On behalf of Austal USA’s shipbuilding team – one of the most talented that I’ve ever worked with – we are proud to provide our Navy with an incredible vessel that will honour the great city of Yuma as she supports humanitarian efforts the world over», said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. «The EPF program has matured very well and we are confident that the EPF fleet will continue to serve our Navy as a highly flexible platform», Mr. Perciavalle added.

EPF-8, a 337.9 feet/103 meter, shallow draft all-aluminium catamaran, is a multi-mission, non-combatant transport vessel characterized by its high volume, high speed, and flexibility. It is the fourth U.S. Navy ship to be named Yuma as a tribute to the residents of the Arizona city and their close ties with the military.

USNS Yuma (T-EPF-8) will ultimately join her sister EPF’s that have been delivered over the last three years, including USNS Spearhead (T-EPF-1) which has logged over 100,000 nautical miles/115,078 miles/185,200 km at sea and is currently on her fifth deployment since she was delivered in 2012.

Three more EPF’s and seven Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are currently under construction at Austal USA. Next month, the shipyard is scheduled to launch USNS Yuma (T-EPF-8), while the future USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) will undergo builder’s sea trials.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS
Material	Hull and superstructure – aluminium alloy
Length overall	103 m/337.9 feet
Beam overall	28.5 m/93.5 feet
Hull draft (maximum)	3.83 m/12.57 feet
MISSION BAY
Area (with tie-downs)	1,863 m2/20,053 feet2
Clear Height	4.75 m/15.6 feet
Turning diameter	26.2 m/86.0 feet
ISO TEU (Twenty Equivalent Units) Stations	6 Interface Panels
ACCOMMODATIONS
Crew	41
Single SR	2
Double SR	6
Quad SR	7
Troop Seats	312
Troop Berths	Permanent: 104
	Temporary: 46
Galley and Messing	48
PROPULSION
Main Engines	4 × MTU 20V8000 M71L Diesel Engines 4 × 9.1 MW
Gear boxes	4 × ZF 60000NR2H Reduction Gears
Waterjets	4 × Wartsila WLD 1400 SR
PERFORMANCE
Average Speed	35 knots/40 mph/65 km/h @ 90% MCR with 635 mt (700 st) payload
Maximum Speed	43 knots/50 mph/80 km/h without payload
Maximum Transit Range	1,200 NM/1,381 miles/2,222 km
Self-Deployment Range	5,600 NM/6,444 miles/10,371 km
Survival Through	SS-7
AVIATION FACILITIES
NAVAIR Level 1 Class 2 Certified Flight Deck for one helicopter
Centreline parking area for one helicopter
NAVAIR Level 1 class 4 Type 2 Certified VERTREP (Vertical Replenishment)
Helicopter Control Station
AUXILIARY SYSTEMS
Active Ride Control	Transcom Interceptors
	Foils: 3.24 m2/34.9 feet2 each, forward on inboard sides of demi-hulls
Vehicle Ramp	Articulated Slewing Stern Ramp
	Straight aft to 45 Starboard
Telescoping Boom Crane	12.3 mt @ 15 m, 18.2 mt @ 10 m/13.6 Lt @ 49.2 feet, 20.1 Lt @ 32.8 feet

 

Ships

USNS Spearhead (EPF-1), Delivered

USNS Choctaw County (EPF-2), Delivered

USNS Millinocket (EPF-3), Delivered

USNS Fall River (EPF-4), Delivered

USNS Trenton (EPF-5), Delivered

USNS Brunswick (EPF-6), Delivered

USNS Carson City (EPF-7), Delivered

Yuma (EPF-8), under construction

Bismark (EPF-9), under construction

Burlington (EPF-10), under construction

EPF-11

EPF-12