SHIELD
Or, a fess wavy per fess wavy Sable and Celeste, surmounted by a barrelet Gris, in base a mullet Vert; on a chief wavy of the last issuant from a barrelet wavy a demi-wheel all Or.
CREST
On a wreath Or and Sable, a sinister winged gauntlet Argent (Silver Gray) grasping a lightning flash bendwise of the first between by nine mullets, four and five, Celeste.
MOTTO
On a scroll Vert, doubled Or, and between two mullets of the last the inscription: POSSUMUS EFFICIEMUS of the second.
SUPPORTERS
Behind the shield, a United States Army Officers sword and a Marine Corps Officers Mameluke sword in saltire, points downward Proper.
SHIELD
The shield shape is taken from the North Dakota coat of arms and alludes to the rich Native American heritage of the capital city, Bismarck. Arrowheads also signify military preparedness for any naval wartime operation. The colors green and gold are indicative of the great agricultural State of North Dakota and have particular reference to ripening grain and the abundant grazing areas. A single star denotes Bismarck as the capital city. The three wavy barrulets represent the stack colors of the Military Sealift Command. The demi-wheel represents the steamboat, FAR WEST, which traveled downriver to Bismarck in its historic 710-mile run in a record time of 54 hours with surviving cavalrymen and news of Custers defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876.
CREST
The winged gauntlet represents the crews determination and the high speed potential of the CITY OF BISMARCK. The lightning flash depicts communications capabilities and advanced technologies. The nine stars are colored Military Sealift Command blue and signify USNS CITY OF BISMARCK as the ninth vessel in the Spearhead-class.
SUPPORTERS
The saber and Mameluke sword symbolize cooperation and teamwork and the T-EPFs capability to transport both U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps personnel and their military vehicles.
MOTTO
The motto, POSSUMUS EFFICIEMUS, translates to WE ARE ABLE, WE SHALL MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SEAL
The coat of arms as blazoned in full color on an oval field within a dark blue designation band, edged with a gold rope and bearing the name USNS CITY OF BISMARCK at the top and T-EPF 9 at the base.