USNS Millinocket Completes Acceptance Trials

The future USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3) completed acceptance trials, Jan. 10, concluding a week of thorough in-port and at-sea testing for the ship.

The trials, which were conducted at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., included demonstrations on all of the ships systems to ensure that JHSV 3 is ready for delivery and fulfills all contractual requirements.

“We are extremely pleased with Millinocket’s performance during these trials,” said Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager Capt. Henry Stevens. “The trials brought up no major issues, and we are on track to progress towards delivery.”

USNS Millinocket, the third ship of the JHSV class is capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots.

The JHSV design includes a flight deck for helicopter operations and an off-load ramp that allows for quick vehicular access to and from the ship as well as access to austere piers and quay walls. This makes for an extremely flexible asset able to support a wide range of operations including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for rapid transport.

As a U.S. Naval Ship (USNS), Millinocket will be manned by a civilian crew who will operate and navigate the ship as part of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command.

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Press Release, January 14, 2014