National Security Sealift Vessels (NSSV) 10 new Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) Ships

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is initiating an Acquisition Plan for the procurement of a new class of ships, designated as National Security Sealift Vessels (NSSV), to begin the long-term recapitalization of the aging National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF). In accordance with updated Congressional direction, MARAD intends to award a contract for the delivery of up to 10 new Roll-on/Roll-off (RO/RO) ships, with the competitive solicitation scheduled for the fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2026.The NSSV program will leverage commercially available ship designs to fulfill its mission of providing robust sealift capability and serving as essential national assets for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. This effort is authorized under Section 3546 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Pub. L. 117-263), as amended by Section 3533 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Pub. L. 118-159).The program, with an estimated total value of $3.75 billion, mandates that the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Coast Guard, enter into an agreement with a vessel construction manager to oversee the construction of the fleet. This acquisition ensures that the design process and contractual arrangements support a construction start date in Fiscal Year 2027, modernizing the nation's strategic sealift capacity through a streamlined, commercial-based procurement strategy.