Glamox to Provide Lighting for US Navy’s Next Navajo-Class Support Vessel
Austal USA has selected Norwegian lighting manufacturer Glamox to supply interior and exterior lighting for the future USNS James D. Fairbanks, one of the US Navy’s upcoming Navajo-class towing, salvage, and rescue ships.
Glamox will deliver 914 LED lighting units, including navigation lights, floodlights, explosion-proof fixtures, deck lighting, and interior lights for operational and living spaces such as corridors, stairwells, and crew quarters.
Delivery is scheduled for spring 2026, with installation at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
This marks the third Navajo-class vessel for which Glamox will supply lighting. The company has also provided systems for five Navajo-class ships being built by Bollinger Houma Shipyards in Louisiana.
“We are proud to be supplying lighting for this workhorse of the seas, which will enter service in 2028,” said John O’Driscoll, general manager of Glamox in North America.
“This latest order, along with orders from navies worldwide, highlights Glamox’s marine defence lighting capabilities, which range from lights for inshore rescue boats to large aircraft carriers.”
Navajo-Class Ships
The Navajo-class program aims to modernize the US Navy’s fleet of support vessels, replacing the aging Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ships and Powhatan-class ocean tugs.
The ships will perform towing, salvage, diving, oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, and wide-area search missions.
A key feature of the class is a large, open, working deck measuring about 6,000 square feet (557 square meters), which can accommodate a variety of interchangeable equipment and mission modules.
Broader Work With US Navy Programs
Glamox has previously supplied lighting for other US Navy projects with Austal USA, including an Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium and navigation lighting for the Landing Craft Utility 1700-class vessels.
The USNS James D. Fairbanks is expected to enter service around 2028 as part of the navy’s ongoing effort to recapitalize its fleet of support and auxiliary ships.
