Austal USA Delivers USNS Point Loma (EPF 15) to the U.S. Navy

MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA and U.S. Navy representatives signed official documentation onboard USNS Point Loma (EPF 15) Tuesday, June 24, signifying delivery of the ship. Delivery is the last milestone before EPF 15 enters the Military Sealift Command fleet. 

EPF 15 is the second Naval vessel named for Point Loma, the southern California seaside community with a long-standing naval presence credited as the first landing point for European explorers in 1542.  USNS Point Loma (EPF 15) is the second EPF Flight II vessel Austal USA has delivered to the Navy. EPF Flight II vessels provide an enhanced trauma and surgical medical capability to the fleet. The EPF’s catamaran design provides inherent stability to enable underway medical procedures in an onboard operating suite. Enhanced capabilities to support V-22 flight operations and launch and recover 11-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIB) complement the ship’s medical facilities.

“I am proud of Austal USA’s EPF program workforce and our teammates and suppliers across the US,” Austal USA Vice President, Surface Ship Programs Harley Combs said.  “This ship represents the efforts of some of the defense maritime industry’s most talented shipbuilders.  They are excited to see her join her sister ships in greatly enhancing the Military Sealift Command fleet.”

Austal USA has delivered fifteen EPFs to the Navy.  Lansing (EPF 16), the final EPF under contract, is in the advanced stages of production preparing for christening and launch in early 2026. The 338-ft Spearhead-class EPF program is currently providing high-speed, high-payload transport capability to fleet and combatant commanders.