Construction has officially begun on the US Navy’s future USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (T-AO 212), the eighth John Lewis-class replenishment oiler, following a keel-laying ceremony at General Dynamics NASSCO’s San Diego shipyard. The vessel commemorates the late Supreme Court justice known for championing women’s rights. Jane Ginsburg marked the milestone by welding her initials onto the hull plate. The John Lewis-class program, launched in 2016, aims to deliver up to 20 oilers to modernize the Navy’s logistics fleet. Powered by twin diesel engines and capable of 20 knots, the ships provide long-range fuel replenishment and operational support worldwide.
