Navy Secretary Names Newest Towing, Salvage, Rescue Ship

WASHINGTON
— Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer has announced that the newest towing, salvage
and rescue ship (T-ATS 8) will be named Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek in honor of
the history, service and contributions of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe of
Michigan, Spencer’s public affairs office said July 26.

The
Saginaw Chippewa people are made up of Saginaw, Black River and Swan Creek
bands. Ojibwe is also referred to as Chippewa and Anishinabek means “original
people.”

“I am
deeply honored to announce that the history of the Saginaw Chippewa people will
once again be part of Navy and Marine Corps history,” Spencer said. “The future
USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek honors the original people of modern-day
Michigan, with their original name, and will carry the proud Ojibwe legacy for
decades to come.”

This is
the first ship to bear the name Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek, and the fifth U.S.
ship to be named in honor of the Saginaw Chippewa people.

“It’s a
great honor to have the name and language of our people on a Navy ship,” said Ronald
Ekdahl, chief of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe of Michigan. “We hold our veterans
in high regard, and we have a proud tradition of having many of our men and
women provide service to our country. ‘Chi Miigwetch’ (thank you) to the U.S.
Navy for recognizing the culture in such a distinct way.”

Gulf
Island Shipyards was awarded a $64.8 million contract option for the detail
design and construction of the new ship, which will be based on existing
commercial towing offshore vessel designs and will replace the current T-ATF
166 and T-ARS 50 class ships in service with the U.S. Military Sealift Command.
The future USNS Cherokee Nation is the second ship in the new class of towing, salvage
and rescue Ships and will be designated T-ATS 7.

The
contract includes options for potentially six additional vessels, and each
additional ship will be named in honor of prominent Native Americans or Native
American tribes.

The T-ATS will serve as
open ocean towing vessels and will support salvage operations and submarine
rescue missions. The ship will be built at the company’s shipyard in Houma,
Louisiana, and is expected to be completed in July 2021.