Austal delivers its 12th LCS to US Navy






Perth international shipbuilder Austal today announced the delivery of its twelfth Independence class littoral combat ship (LCS) to the US Navy.

Built at the company’s shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, the future USS Oakland (LCS-24) (pictured), is a 127 metre long aluminium trimaran multi-purpose warship.

Five additional LCS’s are under various stages of construction at Mobile.

Austal also has USN orders for 14 expeditionary fast transport vessels (EPF), with 11 already delivered.

Austal chief executive David Singleton said there was a great sense of pride in completing the ship despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Austal USA has met the challenge to safely and efficiently maintain the delivery schedule of the future USS Oakland, while continuing to perform a critical role in the United States’ defence industrial base.”

The Mobile shipyard provides the majority of Austal’s profits, and with the advancement of its two USN contracts the company is moving to diversify its operations away from its traditional focus on aluminium ships.

Only last week it became clear Austal would expand into steel ship construction at Mobile, with the announcement of a $73 million (US$ 50 million) loan in support of the US Navy Shipbuilding Industrial Base steel vessel capabilities.

Picture: Austal

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