Austal breaks ground on submarine module manufacturing facility

The US arm of shipbuilder Austal has celebrated the start of construction for a new manufacturing facility for submarine modules (MMF3) at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

This new building, scheduled to be fully operational in late 2026, will significantly increase Austal USA’s capacity to support the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base (SIB).

The new building will provide 369,600 square feet of indoor manufacturing space purpose-built to manufacture submarine modules which are later assembled into complete vessels.

The production from this building will support the U.S. Navy’s goal of delivering one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines annually and will include a material storage area, machine shop, assembly area, and waterfront improvements to support the shipment of the completed modules via barge.

This project, combined with the recent groundbreaking for another manufacturing building, will see $750 million spent on expansion of Austal USA’s Mobile facility, according to the Perth company.

The two buildings, when fully operational, will add over 2,000 new jobs.

Austal USA President Michelle Kruger said: “Austal USA is committed to supporting national security initiatives like the Navy’s Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programme.

“Our success is the strong partnerships we have built with not only our customers but also our employees and the amazing community surrounding us.

“We are grateful for the unending support we continue to receive from the city and county of Mobile and the great state of Alabama.”

In July Austal USA started construction on a new assembly building to enable the erection of large steel modules for Navy and Coast Guard ships, including the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) and TAGOS-25 programmes.

The building will occupy four and a half acres providing over 192,000 square feet of new indoor manufacturing space.

This project will include a shiplift and ship launch system that features an articulated lifting platform approximately 450 feet long by 125 feet wide.

Further reading:
Austal USA begins work on new ship assembly facilities
Austal wins massive $4.3 billion United States patrol boat contract
Austal wins US Navy landing craft contract

Picture: Austal