Austal
Austal News
Austal Delivers Warship LCS 4 'Coronado'
![Coronado delivery: Photo credit Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/coronado-delivery-photo-credit-austal-18454.jpg)
Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship 'Coronado' (LCS 4) was delivered by shipbuilders Austal to the Navy on September 27, 2013, after successfully completing Acceptance Trials. The delivery ceremony took place on Coronado’s flight deck and was attended by personnel from the LCS Squadron in San Diego, SUPSHIP Gulf Coast, Coronado Crew (both Blue and Gold), the Navy program office, General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (the prime contractor)…
Austal USA Wins Safety Award
![Austal/AEU safety award presentation: Photo credit Austal USA](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/ustalaeu-safety-award-presentation-photo-18014.jpg)
Austal USA earns 3rd annual Equity Underwriters' (AEU) large shipyard safety & health award
. (AEU insures 68 shipyards nationwide). AEU has honored Austal USA, a member of the American Longshore Mutual Association (ALMA), with the presentation of their 2012 Safety and Health Award for a large shipyard. Jimmy Burgin, AEU Senior Vice President and Director of Loss Control, presented Austal USA president…
Austal USA Powers Ahead
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/-17841.jpg)
Austal USA has arguably been one of the more progressive and aggressive U.S. shipyards in its investment in technology, facilities and people. Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle took the helm a little more than six months ago, and Maritime Reporter was able to catch up with him recently for insights on pressing matters of the day. You have been in the president’s chair at Austal USA for more than half a year…
Austal Celebrates Keel Laying for Cape
![Photo: Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-austal-17074.jpg)
Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal today hosted the keel-laying ceremony for the third vessel, Cape Nelson, one of eight 56-meter patrol boats that Austal is designing, building and supporting for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Keel-laying traditionally marks the first significant milestone in a ship’s construction. Historically this was the “laying down” of the main timber making up the backbone of a vessel.
Keel Laid for Third Cape-class Patrol Boat at Austal Shipyard
![Cape-class Keel laying ceremony: Photo credit Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/capeclass-keel-laying-ceremony-photo-17061.jpg)
Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape-class Patrol Boat Program, Austal has hosted the keel-laying ceremony for the third vessel, 'Cape Nelson', one of eight 56-metre patrol boats that Austal is designing, building and supporting for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. The three coins were placed under the keel block by Michael Pezzullo, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Customs and Border Protection Services…
Austal Hi-speed Catamaran: Navy Charter Extended
![Troops boarding WestPac Express: Photo courtesy of Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/troops-boarding-westpac-express-photo-16049.jpg)
The charter of the Austal high speed vessel 'WestPac Express' has been extended for a further six months by the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The modification to the charter will see the ship continue to support the operations of the United States Marine Corps’ Third Marine Expeditionary Force through to February 2014. The contract extension comes almost exactly 12 years after Austal…
Austal Celebrates Keel Laying for U.S. Navy LCS
![](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/-15900.jpg)
On June 25, 2013, Austal held a keel-laying ceremony for the fourth Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) – Montgomery (LCS 8). This is the second LCS of ten awarded by the Navy to Austal, as prime contractor, and the sixth keel laying ceremony celebrated by Austal, as prime, in less than three years. During that time Austal has grown tremendously, increasing by over 2,000 total employees, and doubling the size of the facility.
Austal Deliver Joint High Speed Vessel, Launch the Next One
![JHSV 3 Launch: Photo credit Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/jhsv-3-launch-photo-credit-15449.jpg)
The second Austal-built Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV 2), USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2) delivered to the Navy, & USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3) was smoothly launched. The 338-foot-long aluminum catamarans are designed to be fast, flexible and maneuverable even in shallow waters, making them ideal for transporting troops and equipment quickly within a theater of operations. This 103-meter high-speed catamaran represents the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform.
Austal Lays Keel for Fourth U.S. Navy Vessel
![JHSV 4 Welder, Austal USA Employee Doc Selvie and Authenticator, Diane Patrick](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/jhsv-4-welder-austal-usa-15028.jpg)
Austal held a keel-laying ceremony for the fourth Joint High Speed Vessel Fall River (JHSV 4), one of ten Austal-designed 103-meter U.S. Navy Joint High Speed Vessels under contract with the U.S. Navy. The ship’s sponsor, Diane Bemus Patrick, was present at the ceremony to authenticate the keel. Mrs. Patrick, First Lady of Massachusetts where the city of Fall River is located, was chosen to sponsor the ship by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Mrs.
Austal Forges Links with Thai, Vietnam Shipyards
![LCS 2: Photo credit Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/lcs-2-photo-credit-austal-14710.jpg)
Austal announce new strategic partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance its support to the US Navy & others in the region. Following on from the strategic partnership with Singapore’s Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd announced in January 2013, Austal has now secured similar agreements with Unithai Shipyard and Engineering located within Thailand's main international deep-sea port of Laem Chabang, and with the Cam Ranh Shipyard in Vietnam.
GE to Supply Austal with Gas Turbines for Navy Ships
![LCS-7](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/lcs7-14405.jpg)
GE Marine said it will provide Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., with four LM2500 marine aeroderivative gas turbines to power the United States Navy’s 14th and 16th Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). GE is providing 20 LM2500 gas turbines for the Austal USA LCS program, part of a contract for up to 10 ships over a five-year period. The Austal-built LCSs are powered by two LM2500s arranged in a combined diesel or gas turbine configuration with two diesel engines.
Third Austal JHSV Christened
![JHSV 1 on Sea Trials: Photo courtesy of Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/jhsv-1-on-sea-trials-14126.jpg)
Austal announce the christening of 'USNS Millinocket; at its Mobile, Alabama shipyard. USNS Millinocket is the third of ten Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) Austal has under contract with the U.S. Navy as part of an overall 10-ship contract worth over $1.6 billion. The name of the new ship was chosen by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus after the Maine towns of East Millinocket and Millinocket. The ship’s sponsor…
Austal USA Earns Safety Excellence Award
![Austal USA President, Craig Perciavalle: Photo credit Austal USA](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/austal-usa-president-craig-perciavalle-14085.jpg)
The Shipbuilders’ Council of America (SCA) has awarded Austal the 2012 SCA Award for Excellence in Safety. This honor is awarded to the shipyard members of the Association with the lowest total recordable incidence rates (TRIR) based on a quarterly injury and illness survey conducted by the SCA. This year, Austal contributed to the SCA’s lowest TRIR averages ever which was 65% below the industry average.
Risk Breakers: Craig Perciavalle President, Austal USA
The recently announced promotion of Craig Perciavalle to President, Austal USA was a logical one. At Austal since 2007, he moves up after serving as Senior Vice President of Operations.
Austal Awarded Navy LCS Assessment Contract
![LCS 4 Christening: Photo credit Austal USA](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/lcs-4-christening-photo-credit-13328.jpg)
Austal USA gains additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) work contract. The United States Department of Defense has announced that Austal USA has been awarded a US$19.987-million modification to a previously awarded Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract. The modification exercises options for class service efforts and special studies, analyses and reviews for the LCS program. Austal USA will assess engineering and production challenges…
Austal LCS Contracts Signify Navy's Program Commitment
![USS Independence: Photo credit USMRA](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/uss-independence-photo-credit-usmra-12965.jpg)
The US Navy has exercised contract options with Austal USA for the construction of LCS 14 & LCS 16. Austal USA’s order backlog has grown by approximately $681.7 million dollars as a result of two additional Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) contract options being exercised by the United States Navy. The contract options fund construction of the LCS 14 and LCS 16, the fifth and sixth ships in the 10-ship block buy award made to an Austal-led team in December 2010.
Austal in Sembawang Shipyard Strategic Alliance
Austal, & Singapore's Sembawang Shipyard enter strategic partnership to provide ship repair, maintenance, for US Navy ships. Austal and Sembawang Shipyard believe…
AUSTAL USA: Rolling Strong into 2013
Austal USA today finds itself plowing into 2013 with the proverbial bone in its teeth, powered by an enviably hefty U.S. government backorder book, possibly the…
Austal Welcomes Defence Delegation
![Austal Trimaran in Background: Photo credit Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/austal-trimaran-in-background-photo-12106.jpg)
Austal receives a high profile defence delegation, including the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Defence, at its Western Australian facility. The Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, was accompanied by Australia’s Minister for Defence, the Hon Stephen Smith, MP; Australia’s Chief of Defence Force, General David Hurley, AC, DSC; Australia’s Defence Secretary, Mr Dennis Richardson, AO and other defence personnel from both the United Kingdom and Australia.
Austal Lanches First Cape-class Patrol Boat
![Cape-class Patrol Boat: Photo credit Austal](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/capeclass-patrol-boat-photo-credit-12004.jpg)
Austal launch the first-in-a-series Cape Class Patrol Boat at the company's Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. The vessel is the first of eight new boats being built by Austal for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service under a design, construct and in-service support contract valued at approximately A$330 million. The ceremony marked the first time the boat has been lowered into the water.