NASSCO christens sixth and final ship in US Navy’s ESB program

General Dynamics NASSCO has christened the USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. (ESB 8), the sixth and final ship for the US Navy’s Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) program.

As informed, the ceremony took place on March 7, 2026. Heather Cafferata, daughter of the ship’s namesake, and Jessica Cafferata, granddaughter of the ship’s namesake, christened the ship with the traditional champagne bottle break alongside the hull.

The ship is named for Private First Class Hector A. Cafferata Jr....