Austal USA Begins Construction of U.S. Navy’s Next-Generation Rescue Ship, USNS Solomon Atkinson
The keel of USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12), the U.S. Navy’s seventh Navajo-class towing, salvage, and rescue ship, was laid during a ceremony on April 16 at Austal USA’s Mobile, Alabama, facility. This comes just two weeks after Austal USA celebrated the christening of the future USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11).
“I am proud of the Austal USA T-ATS program team for providing us with the opportunity to celebrate two T-ATS milestones so close together,” said Dave Growden, vice president of new construction. “This ceremony is evidence of the hard work and dedication put forth by Austal USA and our Navy and supplier partners to keep the T-ATS program steadily moving forward.”
The ceremony was attended by local community leaders, Austal USA employees, Navy personnel, and the widow of Solomon Atkinson, for whom the ship is named, JoAnn Atkinson, daughters Maria Hayward and Michele Gunyah, and close friends. Solomon Atkinson was born in Metlakatla, Alaska, 1930 and was a member of the first SEAL Team One, formed in 1962. He was deployed to Korea and served three tours in Vietnam. His awards for his Vietnam service include the Bronze Star, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” and the Purple Heart.
“It’s an honor to have members of the Atkinson family and the Metlakatla Indian Community join us in celebrating this major milestone in the ship’s journey,” said John Lighthammer, Program Manager for the Auxiliary and Special Mission Shipbuilding Program Office.
The T-ATS 6 Navajo class is a multi-mission, common hull platform developed to take over the roles of the Powhatan-class T-ATF Fleet Tugs and Safeguard-class T-ARS Rescue and Salvage vessels, which are reaching the end of their service lives. The fleet, consisting of 10 vessels in total, is being built simultaneously by Bollinger Houma Shipyard and Austal USA Shipyard.
Bollinger Houma Shipyard is responsible for the construction of the fleet’s first five ships: USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7), USNS Saginax Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS 8), USNS Lenni Lenape (T-ATS 9) and USNS Muscogee Creek Nation (T-ATS 10). The projected delivery for T-ATS 6 is in FY 2026, with follow-on Bollinger ships delivering each subsequent FY.
Austal USA has undertaken the construction of T-ATS 11 through T-ATS 15. Austal USA has begun construction of USNS Billy Frank Jr (T-ATS 11), USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12), and USNS James D. Fairbanks (T-ATS 13). USNS Narragansett (T-ATS 14) and T-ATS 15 (name TBD) are under contract. The projected delivery for T-ATS 11 is mid-FY 2026, with follow-on Austal ships delivering each subsequent FY.