Austal announce the christening of 'USNS Millinocket; at its Mobile, Alabama shipyard.
USNS Millinocket is the third of ten Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) Austal has under contract with the U.S. Navy as part of an overall 10-ship contract worth over $1.6 billion.
The name of the new ship was chosen by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus after the Maine towns of East Millinocket and Millinocket. According to Secretary Mabus, “Millinocket displays American values of community and ingenuity at their best."
The ship’s sponsor, the Honorable Karen Gordon Mills, was sworn in as Administrator of the Small Business Administration in April 2009. A Maine resident, Ms. Mills has served in the President’s Cabinet since January 2012, where she is a key member of the President’s economic leadership team reflecting the important role that small businesses and entrepreneurs play in our nation’s long-term economic growth and prosperity.
“Administrator Mills was a particularly appropriate sponsor for this Navy ship,” said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle, “it is a wonderful way to honor the more than 200 small businesses nationwide that support the JHSV program.”