Auxiliary Personnel Lighter

The Auxiliary Personnel Lighter (APL) is a Navy initiative aimed at providing berthing and messing facilities for sailors while their ships are in port for availabilities and Inter-Deployment Training Cycles (IDTC). The APL(S) barracks craft supports up to an aircraft carrier (CVN) size ship, providing berthing for up to 600 personnel and messing for up to 1,130 personnel. The program aims to replace outdated and dilapidated transport ships, greatly improving sailors' quality of life, safety, and reducing crew berthing and messing costs during ship maintenance availabilities.

The APL program's specific goals include the replacement of outdated and unsafe transport ships with modern facilities designed to enhance the quality of life for sailors during port stays. The program also aims to reduce crew berthing and messing costs during ship maintenance availabilities by providing updated berthing and messing facilities. Additionally, the APL(S) barracks craft is designed to support up to an aircraft carrier (CVN) size ship, providing essential facilities such as classrooms, administrative offices, galley, mess, scullery, post office, convenience store, barbershop, lounges, laundry facilities, physical fitness center, chaplain's office, medical complex, quarterdeck, equipment/machinery rooms, and various storerooms.