Austal Ltd., a Perth, Australia-based shipbuilder, has secured a $1.6 billion contract to build 10 high-speed military transport ships for the U.S. Navy under a contract revealed this week by U.S. Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama. The company, which specializes in high-speed ferries and transport vessels, would build the ships at its U.S. facility on the Mobile River in Alabama where Austal has about 1,000 employees, which are currently completing the U.S. Navy’s 127 metre Littoral Combat Ship “Independence” (LCS 2).
In a statement released today, Austal confirmed that it had been awarded a $185 million contract to build one so called Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), with contracts for nine others to follow between 2009 and 2013.
The JHSV is a transport ship, not a combat vessel and similar to the Austal-built “WestPac Express” operated by the U.S. Marines for the past seven years. The JHSV is designed to quickly move troops and cargo. Thus will be build for supporting humanitarian relief efforts, operating in shallow waters and reaching speeds in excess of 35 knots fully loaded. The vessels will be a joint-use platform operated by both the United States Army and Navy.
Austal Chairman John Rothwell said, “Austal’s U.S. Defence security clearance was an important factor in winning this contract along with the success of “WestPac Express”, which has been successfully serving with the US Marines in Okinawa, Japan for more than seven years.”
“Austal is very proud to have been selected as Prime contractor to build an important part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet," Austal Managing Director Bob Browning said.
Upon completion in mid-2009, the first half of the 70,000 m2 MMF will be available for the fabrication of all JHSV modules.
Sea trials of the recently-christened “Independence” (LCS 2) are scheduled to commence early next year. Mr Browning said the U.S. Navy’s ongoing commitment to a 55-vessel LCS program, as part of its 313 ship fleet, meant there was strong chance Austal would be awarded a second LCS in early 2009.
Rothwell said successfully bidding as Prime contractor for the JHSV programme was a fantastic result for the company, which had taken significant steps towards advancing its standing as a defence supplier.
Austal is teamed with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, who will design, integrate, and test the JHSV’s electronic systems, including an Open Architecture Computing Infrastructure, internal and external communications, electronic navigation, aviation, and armament systems.
However, Austal is one of three contractors that won $3 million JHSV design contracts earlier this year. The multi-billion deal for Austal contemporarily means the beating out of rival bids from the other two competitors, Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La., and Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics Corp. affiliate based in Bath, Maine.
In a statement released today, Austal confirmed that it had been awarded a $185 million contract to build one so called Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), with contracts for nine others to follow between 2009 and 2013.
The JHSV is a transport ship, not a combat vessel and similar to the Austal-built “WestPac Express” operated by the U.S. Marines for the past seven years. The JHSV is designed to quickly move troops and cargo. Thus will be build for supporting humanitarian relief efforts, operating in shallow waters and reaching speeds in excess of 35 knots fully loaded. The vessels will be a joint-use platform operated by both the United States Army and Navy.
Austal Chairman John Rothwell said, “Austal’s U.S. Defence security clearance was an important factor in winning this contract along with the success of “WestPac Express”, which has been successfully serving with the US Marines in Okinawa, Japan for more than seven years.”
“Austal is very proud to have been selected as Prime contractor to build an important part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet," Austal Managing Director Bob Browning said.
Upon completion in mid-2009, the first half of the 70,000 m2 MMF will be available for the fabrication of all JHSV modules.
Sea trials of the recently-christened “Independence” (LCS 2) are scheduled to commence early next year. Mr Browning said the U.S. Navy’s ongoing commitment to a 55-vessel LCS program, as part of its 313 ship fleet, meant there was strong chance Austal would be awarded a second LCS in early 2009.
Rothwell said successfully bidding as Prime contractor for the JHSV programme was a fantastic result for the company, which had taken significant steps towards advancing its standing as a defence supplier.
Austal is teamed with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, who will design, integrate, and test the JHSV’s electronic systems, including an Open Architecture Computing Infrastructure, internal and external communications, electronic navigation, aviation, and armament systems.
However, Austal is one of three contractors that won $3 million JHSV design contracts earlier this year. The multi-billion deal for Austal contemporarily means the beating out of rival bids from the other two competitors, Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La., and Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics Corp. affiliate based in Bath, Maine.