Auxiliary Personnel Lighter

The Auxiliary Personnel Lighter (APL) program is a Navy shipbuilding initiative funded under Line Item 5114, as detailed in the FY 2026 President's Budget. The primary goal of this program is to procure and deliver APL(S) barracks craft, which serve as floating berthing and messing facilities for Navy personnel during periods when their ships are in port for maintenance, availabilities, or inter-deployment training cycles. The APL(S) is designed to support up to an aircraft carrier-sized crew, providing berthing for up to 600 personnel and messing for up to 1,130 personnel. This ensures operational readiness and quality of life for sailors during shore-based periods.

The objectives of the APL(S) procurement are to replace or augment existing berthing capacity with modern, dual-gender capable facilities that meet current Navy standards for habitability, safety, and support services. Each APL(S) is equipped with a wide range of amenities, including classrooms, conference rooms, administrative offices, a disbursing office, galley, mess, scullery, post office, convenience store, barbershop, lounges, laundry facilities, a physical fitness center, chaplain's office, medical complex, quarterdeck, equipment/machinery rooms, and various storerooms. These features are intended to provide comprehensive support to Navy personnel, facilitating both daily living and mission-related activities while in port.

The budget justification for this line item centers on the necessity of maintaining adequate berthing and support infrastructure for the fleet, especially during periods of ship maintenance and modernization. Additional funding has been provided for the procurement of one APL, reflecting Congressional recognition of the importance of these craft in sustaining fleet readiness and personnel welfare. One unit is planned for procurement each year.

The ship production schedule outlines the delivery timeline for three APL units: APL 72, APL 73, and APL 2501. APL 72 was contracted to Bollinger Mississippi Shipbuilding LLC in April 2023, with delivery expected in November 2025. APL 73's contract was awarded in September 2024, with delivery scheduled for June 2027. The contract for APL 2501 is planned for December 2025, with delivery anticipated in June 2029. These timelines reflect the Navy's ongoing effort to maintain a steady cadence of auxiliary craft procurement to meet evolving fleet requirements.

The cost breakdown for each unit includes basic construction/conversion, change orders, and hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) work. This detailed cost analysis ensures transparency and accountability in the use of appropriated funds, aligning expenditures with program objectives and deliverables.

The design and construction process for the APL(S) units is managed through a series of contract milestones, including award to delivery and construction start to delivery. For example, APL 72 is expected to take 31 months from award to delivery, while APL 73 and APL 2501 are projected at 33 and 42 months, respectively. These schedules are intended to optimize shipyard capacity and ensure timely delivery of assets to the fleet.