MOBILE, Alabama, February 26, 2026 : Austal USA launched the future USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12) on February 23, 2026, at its ship manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. The launch marks the company’s first ship of the year and the second Navy Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship (T-ATS) delivered from the yard in less than one week.
The vessel, a Navajo-class platform, was rolled out from the assembly bay and subsequently towed by tugboats following the launch sequence. At the time of launch, the ship was reported to be more than 75 percent complete. It is currently one of three T-ATS ships under construction at the Mobile facility, alongside T-ATS 11 (USNS Billy Frank Jr.) and additional follow-on ships under contract.
Gene Miller, interim president of Austal USA, said the milestone reflects the coordinated work of the company’s workforce and its maritime industrial partners. He stated that the launch demonstrates the effectiveness of the yard’s established production and launch process.
Program Overview and Capabilities
The Navajo-class T-ATS is designed as a multi-mission common hull platform that combines and replaces the capabilities of the Navy’s retiring Rescue and Salvage Ships (T-ARS 50 class) and Fleet Ocean Tugs (T-ATF 166 class). The program supports fleet operations through ocean-going towing, salvage, and rescue capabilities.
Each T-ATS vessel features approximately 6,000 square feet of unobstructed deck space. The open deck configuration enables embarkation of stand-alone and interchangeable mission systems. The design supports towing U.S. Navy vessels, salvage and rescue operations, oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, and wide-area search and surveillance missions.
The ships are also engineered to support future rapid capability initiatives. This includes the ability to accommodate modular payloads that require integrated hotel services and specialized mission interfaces. The T-ATS program provides a common hull platform being constructed across multiple shipyards to modernize the Navy’s towing and salvage fleet under the oversight of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command.
Following launch, the future USNS Solomon Atkinson will proceed with final outfitting. The next major milestone will be engine light-off, followed by comprehensive sea trials prior to delivery to the U.S. Navy.
Ship Namesake
T-ATS 12 is named in honor of Solomon “Sol” Atkinson, an Alaska Native from the Metlakatla Indian Community on Annette Island. Atkinson enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952 and became the first Alaska Native to serve in the Underwater Demolition Teams, the predecessor to the Navy SEALs. In 1962, he was a plankowner of SEAL Team One.
During his 22 years of service, Atkinson deployed to Korea and completed three combat tours in Vietnam. His military decorations included the Bronze Star, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” and the Purple Heart. He also served as an instructor at the Underwater Swimmers School in Key West, Florida, where he trained astronauts, including Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, in underwater weightless simulation techniques in preparation for space missions.
After retiring from the Navy in 1973, Atkinson returned to Alaska. He later served as mayor of Metlakatla and established the first veterans’ organization on Annette Island. He passed away in 2019.
With its launch completed, the future USNS Solomon Atkinson advances within the broader T-ATS acquisition program aimed at replacing legacy towing, salvage, and rescue vessels and sustaining fleet support operations worldwide.
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