The US Navy has finalized acceptance trials for its sixth and final Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) vessel, paving the way for its planned delivery this summer.
Evaluations for the USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. (ESB 8) were conducted in Southern California for three days, with benchmarks focused on the platform’s major systems and overall capability to sail across the theater.
Washington christened the ship last March, four years after its development was initiated in partnership with General Dynamics.
Once commissioned, the ESB will join its sister ships under the force’s Military Sealift Command, which is responsible for refueling warships, transporting materiel and troops, and providing hospital-level medical care.
“Our ESBs are at the forefront of maritime operations, bringing operational capability and rapid response capabilities to the fleet,” said Jon Thomas, acting program manager of the US Navy Strategic and Theater Sealift Office.
“As the final ship of the class, ESB 8 demonstrated its full range of capabilities, and its readiness for delivery and fleet operations.”
Specifications
The US Navy’s ESB vessel was modeled after General Dynamics’ Alaska-class commercial crude oil tanker.
The modified hull measures 785 feet (239 meters) in length and has a beam of 164 feet (50 meters).
It has a capacity for up to 250 personnel and features compartments for up to three landing craft and air cushion boats.
The ship is built with a 52,000-square-foot (4,830-square-meter) flight deck for a maritime helicopter or a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
The ESB is powered by twin diesel-electric engines, enabling speeds of more than 15 knots (28 kilometers/17 miles per hour) and a range of 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 kilometers/10,900 miles).
