BMT to conduct industry studies for US Navy T-ARC(X)

Above: The T‑ARC(X) program eintends to replace the US Navy’s current cable ship, USNS ZEUS (T-ARC 7).
Courtesy BMT

The contract consists of capability and cost trade studies in key areas, investigation of options to maximize affordability and producibility and development of a concept design. BMT’s partners on this project include Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), ABB Marine & Ports and Noise Control Engineering.

The industry studies are a key step in the Navy’s recapitalisation of its undersea cable installation and repair capability, as the only operational ship, USNS ZEUS (T-ARC 7), is nearly forty years old and needs to be replaced. Additional missions include acoustic, hydrographic and bathymetric survey; towing projectors; and deploying and recovering UUVs and other packages through its moonpool.

BMT will develop a T-ARC(X) design that integrates its team’s portfolio of operating cable ship designs with a newly tested hull form. BMT’s approach will apply the successful methodology employed on similar industry studies performed recently. The team also integrates producibility considerations in its approach through its shipbuilding partner, FMG.

Rick Cox, Vice President in BMT’s US defense business, commented: “We’re excited to continue our vessel design support to the US Navy. This award demonstrates the strength of BMT as a trusted design partner of choice, the diversity of our vessel portfolio, and our global naval architecture capabilities.”

The award is the latest in a series of similar US Government industry studies contracts awarded to BMT, including the Navy’s T-AGOS(X) and USCG’s Offshore Patrol Cutter programs. BMT continues to position itself as the leading independent ship design agent in the US, capable of working with shipyards of all sizes to deliver projects ranging from small commercial tasks to complex U.S. Government shipbuilding programmes.