Shipbuilding and repair service provider Vigor Industrial has begun low-rate initial production on the Maneuver Support Vehicle (Light) vessel for the U.S. Army in Vancouver, Wash., the Portland, Ore.-based company announced June 4.
The new generation military landing craft will replace the Vietnam-era Landing Craft Mechanized 8, Vigor said in its announcement.
Vigor completed and launched the prototype vessel, the Elroy F. Wells, in 2022. This past June, work began work on the next phase of the new $1 billion job, which is expected to employ over 180 skilled workers in the project over the next five years.
Vigor Vice President of Fabrication Jayson Robinson said the new vessel represents a milestone for the Army, Vigor and its employees. The contract was originally awarded in 2017.
The vessel is designed to support Army mariners and their payload in even very difficult environments due to its maneuverability and stability.
In the wake of 2023 sea trials, Vigor and the Army completed the handoff of the prototype vessel in February and began planning for production of future vessels. The next phase of fabrication is planned to continue for five years.
Vigor also recently completed a post-shakedown availability on the U.S. Navy vessel John Lewis at Swan Island in Oregon. Post-shakedown availability is an industrial activity availability following delivery that’s used to correct deficiencies found during the shakedown period or to accomplish other authorized improvements to the ship.
The vessel was headed into active service as the namesake of the John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oilers.
The namesake of the previous generation of replenishment oilers, USNS Henry J. Kaiser, is also currently undergoing an availability at Vigor’s Swan Island shipyard.