USNS William McLean (Photo/U.S.Navy)
By Troy Turner
The U.S. Navy has awarded Mobile-based Alabama Shipyard an almost $31.4 million contract for the routine overhaul and dry-docking of the cargo vessel USNS William McLean (T-AKE 12).
The McLean is a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship named in honor of William McLean, a United States Navy physicist who conceived and developed the heat-seeking Sidewinder missile.
The ship has an impressive service record, including in 2024 an eventful five-month deployment with the U.S. Sixth Fleet as the primary Combat Logistics Force vessel assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and USS Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group operations in the Mediterranean Sea.
Alabama Shipyard is a routine provider of ship repairs, updates and overhauls for the U.S. Navy, often with several vessels at a time under contract at its docks.
The latest deal calls for a 91-calendar-day shipyard availability for the McLean and includes a base work package and three unexercised options for additional work and time, which if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of the deal to almost $31.6 million.
Work will be performed in Mobile beginning Sept. 7 and is expected to be completed by Dec. 6.
Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting agency.
Troy Turner is the editor and senior consultant for AlaDefense.com. He can be contacted at [email protected]. His bio can be found here.
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