Future USNS Apalachicola (EPF-13) Completes Acceptance Trials. Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) has announced that the future USNS Apalachicola (EPF-13) has successfully completed acceptance trials for the United States Navy. Constructed at Austal USA’s Mobile Alabama shipyard, EPF-13 is the first Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship with capabilities for V-22 Osprey flight operations and enhanced medical support. It is also the United States Navy’s largest ship with the capability to operate as an unmanned surface vessel (USV).