Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, September 23 – September 27, 2024

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) FIRB approval unlocks payments for Iron Road Mining and green hydrogen developer Iron Road has received Foreign Investment Review Board approval for its giant Cape Hardy hydrogen and metals manufacturing project on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. FIRB approval unlocks $4.5…

Korea’s Hanwha abandons takeover of Austal – media reports

By Peter Roberts Korea’s Hanwha defence group has abandoned its takeover bid for Australia’s most successful indigenous owned defence manufacturer Austal, according to media reports this morning. The takeover was ended in a letter to Austal from Hanwha Ocean CEO Hyek Woong Kwon titled ‘Termination of discussions with Austal’. The company blamed Austal’s ‘insistence’ that…

Austal, Greenroom Robotics strike new commercial partnership

Shipbuilder Austal Australia and maritime software developer Greenroom Robotics have announced a strategic commercial partnership, following their successful Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN.) According to a statement from Greenroom on Wednesday, the new strategic partnership agreement will see the pair “collaborate further on developing watercraft-based products, services and technologies”…

Austal awarded $670m contract for n-submarine module construction

Shipbuilder Austal has announced that Austal USA has been awarded a $670 million (US$450 million) contract by General Dynamics Electric Boat for nuclear submarine module construction. The contract will enable Austal USA to expand production capacity at its US shipyard in Mobile, Alabama (pictured) as part of the U.S. Navy Submarine Industrial Base (SIB). It…

Austal links with Capral for low emissions aluminium

Perth international shipbuilder Austal has committed to using LocAl lower-carbon Aluminium supplied by aluminium processor Capral to support their initiatives in sustainable manufacturing and responsible procurement. Capral has been a long-term supplier to Austal which builds aluminium and steel hulled passenger ferries and vessels for Defence and Border Security. Early in 2023, Austal committed to…