General Dynamics NASSCO has laid the keel for the US Navy’s eighth John Lewis-class vessel, the future USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), at its San Diego facility. Named after the late US Supreme Court Associate Justice, the ship honors her 27-year tenure and advocacy for gender equality. Her daughter, Jane Ginsburg, participated as sponsor, welding her initials onto a steel plate that will be incorporated into the hull. The program began with a $3.2 billion contract in 2016 covering six vessels and has since expanded toward a planned fleet of 20 tankers to replace aging Kaiser-class oilers. Each 746-foot vessel can carry 162,000 barrels of fuel, accommodate 125 personnel, and is operated by Military Sealift Command with a range exceeding 6,000 nautical miles.
