US Navy vessel calls at Gibraltar

The US Navy vessel USNA Yuma is picture above as it sailed into HM Naval Base yesterday for short stop.

The vessel is an Expeditionary Fast Transport and is the eighth such ship accepted into the US Navy. Its sister ship the USNS Carson City called at Gibraltar some 12 months ago prior to deploying in the Mediterranean Sea and along the West Coast of Africa.

These ships are 338-foot shallow draft aluminium catamarans, multi-mission, non-combatant transport vessels designed to operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways.

The EFT design features a flight deck capable of landing a CH-53 helicopter, a stern ramp for vehicle access to the mission deck, and seating for 312 passengers.

These vessels are crewed by civilian mariners while military personnel embark as required by mission sponsors.

Pic by Johnny Bugeja