Headhunter is proud to be the exclusive provider of wastewater treatment solutions for the U.S. Navy’s new Bethesda-class Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS). This cutting-edge fleet, built by Austal USA, represents the first dedicated medical ships commissioned by the Navy in over 35 years. These 361-foot high-speed catamaran hulls are designed to revolutionize how the military provides medical care at sea, offering stabilization and surgery directly in the theater of operations. To meet the rigorous demands of a floating hospital, we worked closely with the engineering team at Austal to identify and integrate the exact units capable of meeting the critical performance and reliability standards required for such high-stakes vessels. By selecting our Tidalwave HMX series, Austal ensured the fleet is equipped with the most robust, space-efficient technology available today.
The EMS fleet is engineered for rapid medical response in shallow or "austere" ports that are inaccessible to larger hospital ships. With a shallow 15-foot draft and a top speed of over 30 knots, these ships reach patients significantly faster than their predecessors. Onboard, each vessel features three operating rooms, 124 medical beds, and a flight deck capable of landing V-22 Osprey aircraft. Our partnership with Austal was focused on ensuring the waste management infrastructure could perform flawlessly under these high-intensity conditions. The Tidalwave HMX systems provide the necessary endurance for these missions while maintaining strict environmental compliance with USCG and IMO standards worldwide.
Being the first choice for a project of this magnitude highlights Headhunter’s standing as a premier partner for major marine builders. The Navy’s move toward an agile medical force requires every onboard system to be highly reliable and user-friendly for the crew. Alongside our sewage treatment units, we provide a full ecosystem of marine solutions—including our Royal Flush toilets and Tank Sentry monitoring systems—that ensure these ships can operate autonomously during long deployments. This contract reinforces our commitment to supporting the U.S. Navy with next-generation technology that protects both the crew and the marine environments they serve
