The U.S. Navy’s eighth Expeditionary Fast Transport, the future USNS Yuma (EPF-8), successfully completed its acceptance trials Jan. 26, the Navy announced Feb. 6.
During a wide range of tests, including two days of evaluation in the Gulf of Mexico, the ship showed it is ready to be turned over to the Navy later in 2017, Naval Sea Systems Command said.
Built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., the 338-foot-long, all-aluminum catamaran is designed to transport troops, equipment and supplies. Its flight deck will host helicopter operations.
Austal is under contract to build a total of 12 EPFs for the Navy for $1.9 billion. It delivered EPF-1, the USNS Spearhead, in 2012.