Detyens Shipyards Wins $12 Million USNS Robert F. Kennedy Shipyard Contract

Detyens Shipyards of North Charleston, South Carolina, has won a Military Sealift Command contract for the midterm shipyard availability of the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208). The firm-fixed-price award has a potential value of up to $11.8 million. The 42-calendar-day availability is scheduled to run from Jan. 11 through Feb. 21, 2027, in North Charleston. The contract was a small-business set-aside.

USNS Robert F. Kennedy Midterm Availability Details

Detyens will carry out the shipyard availability for Robert F. Kennedy under a base work package at its North Charleston location. The award listing identifies the vessel and the 42-day work window, but does not identify individual repair or maintenance work items.

The availability concerns an MSC-operated John Lewis-class oiler, a type of ship that transfers fuel and supplies to Navy vessels at sea. It is a scheduled shipyard period for Robert F. Kennedy, rather than an award to build another ship in the class.

John Lewis-Class Oiler Program Background

The John Lewis class is replacing the Navy’s aging Henry J. Kaiser-class oilers. The ships support underway replenishment, allowing deployed vessels to receive fuel and other supplies without returning to port. The Navy plans a 20-ship class and awarded a block-buy contract in September 2024 for up to eight additional oilers.

The Navy accepted delivery of Robert F. Kennedy in December 2024 after integrated sea trials. The lead ship, USNS John Lewis, completed its first fleet-tasked underway replenishment in 2025, marking the class’s move into operational service.

Award and Contractor Background

Military Sealift Command received three offers for the set-aside contract. The initial award is $11.4 million, with a potential value of up to $11.8 million.

Detyens also held a post-shakedown availability contract for Robert F. Kennedy with a potential value of $30.5 million and a scheduled performance end in September 2026. That earlier work on the same ship preceded the midterm availability awarded here.

This award was disclosed by the DoW in its daily press release. Additional contract details will be available on HigherGov in approximately 90 days under N3220527C1259 after the contract is formally disclosed by the government.