Bollinger Shipyards introduced it has laid the keel for the longer term USNS Muscogee Creek Nation at its yard in Houma, La.
The vessel is the tenth Navajo-class Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship (T-ATS) and the fifth T-ATS vessel being constructed by Bollinger since buying this system in April of 2021.
The keel authenticators have been the Hon. David W. Hill, Principal Chief of the Muscogee Creek Nation, the Hon. Geri Wisner, Legal professional Basic of the Muscogee Creek Nation and ship sponsor, and Nicole Berteaux Foster, ship sponsor.
Named for the Muscogee Creek Nation, the ship honors the self-governed Native American tribe positioned in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. The Muscogee individuals are descendants of not only one tribe, however a union of a number of. Muscogee Creek Nation is the most important of the federally acknowledged Muscogee tribes, which is the fourth largest tribe within the U.S. with greater than 86,000 residents – a few of which have or proceed to serve throughout the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Navajo class offers ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to help fleet operations. T-ATS replaces and fulfills the capabilities that have been beforehand supplied by the Powhatan-class Fleet Ocean Tug (T-ATF 166) and Safeguard-class Rescue and Salvage Ships (T-ARS 50) class ships.
Along with T-ATS 10, Bollinger is developing USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7), USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS 8) and the USNS Lenni Lenape (T-ATS 9).
“Bollinger is honored to be entrusted by the Navy to construct the Navajo-class Towing, Salvage and Rescue Ship. At the moment’s ceremony is a significant milestone within the development of the longer term USNS Muscogee Creek Nation, the fifth of 5 T-ATS ships to be constructed by Bollinger,” stated Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “The T-ATS program is a crucial a part of our increasing portfolio and relationship with the Navy as we work to help vital fleet modernization efforts.”
