MSC Ships Awarded for their Excellence

03 April 2026

From Molly Burgess

NORFOLK, Va. (April 2, 2026) – Five ships from Military Sealift Command (MSC) were recognized for their readiness efforts and awarded the Maritime Excellence Award (Maritime “E”) for the year 2025 on April 2, 2026.

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Norfolk, Va. (Aug. 5, 2025) - USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) arrives back at Naval Station Norfolk after completing a deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility Aug. 5, 2025. During the eight-month deployment, Laramie provided underway replenishment of fuel, fleet cargo, and stores to the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Ryan Carter)

The awarded ships are MSC’s dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Robert E. Peary (T-AKE 5), dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11), fleet replenishment oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO 203), rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52), and dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7)

The Maritime Excellence Award was created to recognize those MSC ships that have achieved the highest levels of operational readiness, performance, reliability, and safety during the calendar year.

MSC provides seaborne support for the Department of War and other federal agencies, operates and maintains ships providing mobile logistics and service support to the fleet; and supports scientific, military, and other programs. To accomplish these varied missions, MSC ships must achieve and maintain high standards of readiness and performance.

“I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude and heartiest congratulations to the crews of these five incredible hard-working ships for their outstanding performance and professionalism during calendar year 2025,” Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, Commander, Military Sealift Command, said in a message announcing the award recipients. “Keep up the great work.”

Following the announcement of the 2025 Maritime “E” recipients, the MSC area commanders will present the awarding vessels with a plaque for their accomplishments.

MSC directs and supports operations for approximately 140 civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships at sea, conduct specialized missions, preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, perform a variety of support services, and move military equipment and supplies to deployed U.S. forces.

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