US Navy accepts USNS Miguel Keith

The US Navy accepted delivery of USNS Miguel Keith on 15 November for Military Sealift Command.

The navy's third Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) vessel, Miguel Keith was constructed by General Dynamics NASSCO and completed acceptance trials in October.

ESBs are flexible, modular platforms designed to support a variety of maritime-based missions including special operations force and airborne mine countermeasures support operations, in addition to humanitarian support and sustainment of traditional military missions.

The vessels include a four-spot flight deck and hangar and a versatile mission deck and are designed around four core capabilities: aviation facilities, berthing, equipment staging support and command and control assets.

Capt Scot Searles, Strategic Sealift and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Office Ships, said: ‘The navy and industry team overcame significant setbacks in the construction of this ship, and I'm extremely proud of the urgency and determination displayed on everyone's part to deliver a high-quality ship that will support our operational requirements in the 7th Fleet area of operations.'

General Dynamics NASSCO is under contract for detail design and construction of ESBs 6 and 7, with an option for ESB 8.