SECNAV Del Toro Marks Milestone at USNS Lansing Keel Laying in Austal Shipyard

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MOBILE, Ala. (Sept. 6, 2024) – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro attended the keel-laying ceremony for USNS Lansing (EPF 16) alongside Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Mobile, Alabama. The event marked a significant milestone in the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) shipbuilding program, designed to aid the movement of personnel, supplies, and equipment for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Army.

“Our EPFs are force multipliers for our combat logistics fleet,” said Secretary Del Toro. “They allow for quicker responses to crises, strengthen our ability to conduct humanitarian and disaster relief operations, and provide logistical support for special forces missions.”

The ship will be operated by a dedicated team of civilian mariners from the Military Sealift Command, along with embarked military personnel. Together, they will ensure that the Lansing operates at peak efficiency, delivering critical resources and services where they are most needed.

The keel laying also signifies the success of the Maritime Statecraft initiative, which aims to restore national maritime power through comprehensive, government-wide efforts. Del Toro praised Michigan’s skilled workforce for their critical role in building the ships and munitions needed to maintain global peace.

Additionally, he highlighted Austal’s establishment of a U.S. subsidiary, investing in America and partnering to build American ships, as a key element of the Maritime Statecraft strategy.

USNS Lansing is the first naval ship named after Michigan’s capital city. An earlier vessel named USS Lansing was named for Aviation Machinist Mate First Class William Henry Lansing and decommissioned in 1965.

EPFs bridge the gap between low-speed sealift and high-speed airlift, transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to a variety of locations, including austerely equipped ports. This capability supports various military and civilian missions, such as Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, Humanitarian Assistance, and Disaster Relief.

Secretary Del Toro made these announcements alongside Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, also revealing the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M-3) initiative.

Austal USA, established in 1999 in Mobile, Alabama, focuses on the growing commercial and defense aluminum vessel market in the United States. Its shipbuilding facility spans 164 acres on the Mobile River’s eastern shore, strategically positioned at the Gulf of Mexico’s mouth.

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