Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor christens the USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF-11) in Alabama

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor christened the USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF-11), a Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport. The USNS Puerto Rico is expected to enter service with the Military Sealift Command early next year.

It will be the first ship in service to bear the name Puerto Rico.

The USS Puerto Rico (CB-5) was cancelled in 1943 while under construction. Hull (HST-2) briefly had the name in 2012, before the name was removed to allow it to be used on the current ship, but was never in service while it held the name.

.As a United States Naval Service (USNS) vessel, it will not be in commission and will carry a civilian commander and crew.