Austal's EPF 11 completes sea trials

MOBILE, Ala. - USNS Puerto Rico (EPF 11), successfully completed the first integrated sea trials for an Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship on Aug. 22. The ship returned to the Austal USA shipyard here following two days underway in the Gulf of Mexico. Integrated Trials combine Builder's and Acceptance Trials, allowing for the shipyard to demonstrate to the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey the operational capability and mission readiness of all the ship's systems during a single underway period. During trials, the shipbuilder conducted comprehensive tests to demonstrate the performance of all of the ship's major systems. EPF 11 is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy this coming fall. EPFs are non-combatants designed to operate in shallow-draft ports or for rapid transport of Marines and special operations personnel. The ships are capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities, as well as on/off-loading vehicles. In addition to Puerto Rico, Austal USA is currently in production of the future USNS Newport (EPF 12), and under contract to build the future USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) and EPF 14. (Source: PEO Ships 08/26/19)