The US Navy has received the USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. (ESB 8), the last vessel in its Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) programme from General Dynamics NASSCO.
The handover took place on 25 August in San Diego, marking the completion of the official transfer process from the builder to the Navy.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
This followed a series of integrated sea trials earlier in the summer that verified the ship’s systems and its ability to operate safely and effectively.
Immediately after delivery, the vessel will begin its Post-Delivery Test and Trials (PDT&T) period. Led by Civil Service Master captain Alexander Delvers, the crew, comprising Civil Service Mariners (CIVMARS) and military personnel, will conduct rigorous evaluations of the ship’s complex systems.
These trials are designed to ensure the vessel, its crew, and its aviation facilities are fully certified and prepared for high-tempo operations.
US Navy’s Strategic and Theater Sealift acting programme manager Jon Thomas said: “Our ESBs are critical to maritime operations, providing logistics support from sea to shore for a broad range of military operations.
“ESB 8 capabilities demonstrated during sea trials highlighted the power and flexibility of this ship and we are excited to have another ESB in the fleet. This delivery demonstrates the unwavering commitment to provide superior quality to the warfighter.”
The ESB 8 is named after Private First Class Hector A. Cafferata Jr. of the US Marine Corps Reserve, a Medal of Honor recipient renowned for his actions at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War.
The vessel will join other ships of the ESB ship class including USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), USS John L. Canley (ESB 6), and the USNS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7), which was delivered in September 2024.
Derived from the Alaska-class crude oil carrier, the ESB class of ships are designed to serve as a mobile, sea-based platform for a wide range of maritime military missions.
As part of the Navy’s critical access infrastructure, these vessels support the forward deployment of personnel, equipment, and supplies across diverse operational environments.
To enable this role, ESBs incorporate core capabilities including aviation facilities, extensive berthing, mission staging areas, and command-and-control functions.
Measuring 239.3m in length, they support missions such as Special Operations Forces and Airborne Mine Countermeasures, and feature a four-spot flight deck, a mission deck, and a hangar to meet varied operational requirements.
The vessels are powered by a commercial diesel-electric propulsion system and offers a range of 9,500 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 15 knots.
