Austal Limited (ASX: ASB) is pleased to announce that Austal USA has officially opened a new steel shipbuilding facility in Mobile, Alabama, which enables the simultaneous production of aluminum and steel ships.
The opening ceremony was supported by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, U.S. Congressman Jerry Carl, representing the first Alabama convention district in the United States. The House of Representatives and nearly two hundred guests, including U.S. Navy representatives; the United States Coast Guard; federal, state and local government; and the Australian Embassy.
The first ships to be built in the new steel facility are two Navajo-class TUs, Rescue and Rescue (T-ATS) ships for the US Navy, for which a contract worth USD 144 million was concluded in October 2021 …
Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg said the opening of the new steel facility marked a significant improvement in Austal’s US shipbuilding capabilities, enabling the development of many steel projects. ships possible, except aluminum ships.
“Austal USA is now ready to begin building steel ships for the US Navy, including Navajo Tawing, Salvage and Rescue Ships (T-ATS); and can offer this expanded shipbuilding capability to new customers such as the United States Coast Guard, ”said Mr Gregg. “Our warmest congratulations to Rusty Murdaugh and the entire Austal USA team for building this great new facility quickly and efficiently.”
US President Austty Rusty Murdaugh said: “We are thrilled to see that our plans to add steel to our capabilities have materialized. Adding steel capacity is a change in the game as it opens. In our ability to support the US Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and other customers. high quality ships.
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“We are grateful for the trust shown by the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy in providing us with a DPA grant to launch this project, and we look forward to paying for this confidence in our future performance, which high quality iron delivers to ships. ”
“Austal USA will operate our steel production line using the same lean manufacturing principles that we have improved over the last 15 years by building LCS and EPF for the Navy. This process has resulted in Austal’s reputation for supply. Quality.” time and budget, ship to ship. We will bring the same reliable production capacity for steel transportation, “added Mr. Murdaugh. The financing of the new steel shipbuilding facility was partly provided by the Title III Production Protection Agreement (DPA) between the United States Department of Defense and Austal USA. The $ 50 million deal was announced in June 2020. Austal USA offset these funds and invested another $ 50 million in the completion of the steel plant.
The new steelmaking facility includes the latest computer and robotic steelmaking equipment to handle all current and future needs of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. The 6,000 square meter warehouse will be used to handle rough steel and the 2,000 square meter painted yard will provide the ability to paint and blow simultaneously with two separate cells, or the two cells can be combined to provide the ability to paint supermodels. The increase in steel ship capacity features the company’s well-established aluminum shipbuilding expertise, which includes the delivery of 15 Independence-class coastal battleships (LCS) and 12 Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport (T-EPF) ships from the United States Navy. The company has seven additional ships currently under construction at the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
