A future U.S. Navy replenishment oiler ship will be named the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg in honor of the late Supreme Court Justice who passed away in 2020 after more than two decades on the bench.
“As we close out women’s history month, it is my absolute honor to name the next T-AO after the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is a historic figure who vigorously advocated for women’s rights and gender equality,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said, according to a press release.
“As Secretary of the Navy, it is my aim to ensure equality and eliminate gender discrimination across the Department of the Navy. She is instrumental to why we now have women of all backgrounds, experiences and talents serving within our ranks, side by side with their male Sailor and Marine counterparts,” he said.
Ginsburg, a liberal icon heralded by many on the left, was nominated to the high court by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1993.
She was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court — the first was Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who was nominated by GOP President Ronald Reagan. Legislation that recently headed to President Joe Biden calls for the creation of statues honoring the two women — the legislation says that the statues should be displayed either in the Capitol or on the grounds of the Capitol.
Republican President Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy created by Ginsburg’s passing.
“T-AO ships are fleet oilers designed to transfer fuel to the Navy’s operating carrier strike groups. The oilers have the ability to carry a load of 162,000 barrels of oil, maintain significant dry cargo capacity, aviation capability and a speed of 20 knots,” the Navy’s press release noted. “The T-AO measures 742-feet in length with a full load displacement of 49,850 tons.”