A specialized vessel engineered to transport heavy combat vehicles through coastal surf has emerged from an assembly line in Vancouver, Washington, bringing the U.S. Army closer to fielding a critical replacement for its aging watercraft fleet. Vigor Marine Fabrication unveiled the USAV Craney Island, marking the second Maneuver Support Vessel (Light) produced under a modernization initiative aimed at overhauling the service’s tactical logistics capabilities. According to the company, the vessel is slated for delivery this fall following extensive trials of its predecessor.
The program addresses a long-standing operational requirement for the Army to move heavy armor, including the 70-ton M1 Abrams battle tank, directly from open ocean waters onto undeveloped shorelines. By combining a shallow draft with advanced propulsion, the MSV(L) platform provides tactical commanders with independent shore-to-shore deployment options in contested littoral environments.
Led by Vice President and General Manager Mark Norris, more than 300 skilled workers at the Vancouver shipyard contributed to constructing the Craney Island, according to Vigor Marine Fabrication. The project also relied on a supply chain comprising more than 40 Washington state-based companies, alongside various industrial partners across the Pacific Northwest and the wider United States. The work has sustained specialized jobs in aluminum welding, marine mechanics, and electrical engineering, reinforcing local industrial capacity.
Design Innovations and Testing Milestones
The Craney Island incorporates structural and technological lessons gathered from the prototype vessel, the SSG Elroy F. Wells, which was launched in 2022. According to Vigor Marine Fabrication, that prototype underwent rigorous testing regimes across the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, allowing engineers to refine the hull architecture and onboard electronic systems before finalizing the second hull. The platform utilizes a sophisticated all-aluminum construction, which reduces overall weight while maintaining structural integrity under heavy payloads.
Propulsion is managed through state-of-the-art waterjet systems paired with a unique hull design that grants the vessel exceptional maneuverability and speed in shallow waters. Furthermore, the design features drive-through bow and stern ramps, facilitating rapid vehicle loading and offloading operations without requiring complex turnaround maneuvers on narrow beaches. These engineering choices directly support littoral operations where reefs, sandbars, and variable surf conditions complicate traditional amphibious landings.
Strengthening the Maritime Industrial Base
Beyond its tactical utility for the military, the MSV(L) program highlights the vital role of domestic shipyards in national security readiness. Vigor Marine Fabrication is currently maintaining full-rate production of the MSV(L) hulls at its Vancouver facility while simultaneously executing contracts for other military watercraft, such as the Combatant Craft Medium (CCM), of which the yard has built more than 30 units. Company representatives note that these manufacturing efforts align with broader national directives aimed at revitalizing American shipbuilding capacity and expanding the skilled maritime workforce.
As the shipyard prepares the Craney Island for final outfitting and operational handover, the U.S. Army continues to monitor production milestones ahead of the scheduled autumn delivery.