The keel for the Navy’s next oceanographic survey ship (T-AGS 67) was ceremonially laid at Halter Marine in Pascagoula, MS, Oct. 4. The keel authenticator was Rear Admiral Tom Anderson, Program Executive Officer, Ships.
“This is an awesome Navy day as we gather to celebrate the start of construction of the eighth ship in the Pathfinder class,” said Rear Adm. Tom Anderson. “We look forward to delivering another ship that provides significant capability in undersea warfare and charting the world’s coastlines.”
Equipped with a moon pool for unmanned vehicle deployment and retrieval, T-AGS 67 will be a multi-mission ship that will perform acoustic, biological, physical and geophysical surveys, providing much of the U.S. military’s information on the ocean environment. The vessel will be over 350 feet in length with an overall beam of 58 feet.
T-AGS 67 will be operated by the Military Sealift Command (MSC). MSC consists of non-combatant, civilian crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, tactically preposition combat cargo at sea and move military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces around the world.
As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all major surface combatants, amphibious ships, special mission and support ships, and special warfare craft.