NASSCO starts work on 6th T-AKE ship for U.S. Navy

NASSCO starts work on 6th T-AKE ship for U.S. Navy San Diego-based General Dynamics NASSCO has started construction on the sixth dry cargo-ammunition ship in the U.S. Navy's T-AKE program with delivery scheduled in the fourth quarter 2008.
   The T-AKE ships are 210 meters (689 feet) in length and 32.2 meters (105.6 feet) in beam, with a design draft of 9.12 meters (29.9 feet) and a displacement of 41,000 metric tons.
   'With five ships now under construction and the potential to build as many as eight additional ships, the T-AKE program will continue to provide significant work for NASSCO's shipbuilders and teammates into the next decade,” said NASSCO President Frederick J. Harris.
   NASSCO delivered the first two T-AKE ships, 'USNS Lewis' and 'USNS Clark,' to the Navy in June. The second ship, 'USNS Sacagawea,' will start sea trials next week and will be delivered in the first quarter 2007. The third ship, 'USNS Alan Shepard,' was launched Wednesday and is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter 2007. The fourth and fifth vessels under construction are the 'USNS Richard E. Byrd' and 'USNS Robert E. Peary.'