Austal spreads its ship maintenance wings in US

International shipbuilder Austal is expanding its United States footprint following the award of further contracts to sustain the Littoral Combat Ship fleet on the east and west coasts.

The Perth company, which built the Independence class LCSs (pictured) at its Mobile, Alabama shipyard, announced today it has been awarded contracts to sustain LCS warships as prime contractor homeported in Mayport, Florida.

Work includes dry docking, repairs, continuous maintenance, ship assessments, corrosion control and facilities maintenance.

This adds to recently announced contracts, including promotion to prime contractor status, for vessels on the west coast.

The contracts continue expansion of its maintenance and sustainment operations in the US which now include Mobile, San Diego, California and Mayport.

Austal also supports the vessels operating in South-east Asia out of Singapore.

CEO Paddy Gregg said Austal was now able to support the aluminium trimaran Independence class LCSs as well as the steel-hulled Freedom class LCSs on both the east and west coast.

“The…contracts come on top of Austal USA’s recent expansion of sustainment capability at Mobile, which includes the recent additional waterfront property, covered vessel repairs facilities and a 20,000 tonne floating dry dock.”

Picture: US Navy/USS Independence departs San Diego

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