General Electric NASSCO lays keel for third U.S. Navy T-AKE cargo ship

General Electric NASSCO lays keel for third U.S. Navy T-AKE cargo ship    General Electric NASSCO laid the keel this week for the “USNS Alan Shepard,” the third combat logistics support ship in the U.S. Navy’s T-AKE program.
   When the vessel is completed, it will be operated by the U.S. Transportation Command’s Military Sealift Command. Construction for the vessel is scheduled for completion this fall.
   The U.S. Navy awarded the San Diego, Calif.-based shipyard contracts for nine new dry cargo/ammunition ships with a total contract value of $2.8 billion. The first ship to be delivered was the “USNS Lewis and Clark” in May 2005. The second ship, “USNS Sacagawea,” will be launched by NASSCO in May.