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According to the report, the US Navy has issued a request for proposals for a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) to oversee construction of the US Marine Corps’ Medium Landing Ship, with a contract award expected in mid-2026. Under the effort, the partner will hold the prime contract and manage subcontracts with shipbuilders, shifting oversight to a commercial model aimed at accelerating delivery and tightening cost control.
The report stated that initial production will be conducted by Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards, which signed a September 2025 contract for long-lead materials, and Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, tasked to assemble four ships. The manager may determine how to award three additional ships under the base contract.
Washington noted that placing the VCM in direct control of shipyard performance will help reduce schedule risk and require fewer personnel than traditional programs.
Rear Adm. Brian Metcalf, program executive officer for ships at the US Navy, said that by providing a mature, ‘build-to-print’ design and empowering a VCM to manage production, they are streamlining oversight for this acquisition. This approach accelerates the timeline and strengthens their industrial base, ensuring they have the capacity and expertise needed for sustained maritime advantage.
The report said that the US Navy selected the LST-100 design in December 2025 as the Medium Landing Ship’s baseline design, built by Dutch defense contractor Damen Group for amphibious transport, logistics, and near-shore deployments.
According to the military, the platform will sustain operability between small landing craft and larger amphibious warships, with Washington planning to field up to 35 of the vessels. The military said that each Medium Landing Ship will measure 100 meters (328 feet) long, incorporate a beam of 16 meters (52 feet), and have a payload capacity of up to 500,000 kilograms (1.1 million pounds) of payload, or over 200 soldiers.
Additionally, it is expected to sail at 15 knots (28 kilometers/17 miles per hour) and have a range of 3,400 nautical miles (6,297 kilometers/3,913 miles per hour).
Source: The Defense Post
The report stated that initial production will be conducted by Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards, which signed a September 2025 contract for long-lead materials, and Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, tasked to assemble four ships. The manager may determine how to award three additional ships under the base contract.
Washington noted that placing the VCM in direct control of shipyard performance will help reduce schedule risk and require fewer personnel than traditional programs.
Rear Adm. Brian Metcalf, program executive officer for ships at the US Navy, said that by providing a mature, ‘build-to-print’ design and empowering a VCM to manage production, they are streamlining oversight for this acquisition. This approach accelerates the timeline and strengthens their industrial base, ensuring they have the capacity and expertise needed for sustained maritime advantage.
The report said that the US Navy selected the LST-100 design in December 2025 as the Medium Landing Ship’s baseline design, built by Dutch defense contractor Damen Group for amphibious transport, logistics, and near-shore deployments.
According to the military, the platform will sustain operability between small landing craft and larger amphibious warships, with Washington planning to field up to 35 of the vessels. The military said that each Medium Landing Ship will measure 100 meters (328 feet) long, incorporate a beam of 16 meters (52 feet), and have a payload capacity of up to 500,000 kilograms (1.1 million pounds) of payload, or over 200 soldiers.
Additionally, it is expected to sail at 15 knots (28 kilometers/17 miles per hour) and have a range of 3,400 nautical miles (6,297 kilometers/3,913 miles per hour).
Source: The Defense Post
