Austal
Encyclopedia
Austal is an Australian company that specializes in the design and construction of aluminium vessels. Its main products include passenger and freight ferries, luxury yachts and military vessels.
Austal has five different production facilities, three of them on the Australian mainland, one in Margate
, Tasmania
and one in the United States. The mainland Australian shipyards are located in Henderson, Western Australia
; the one in the United States is based in Mobile, Alabama
.
.jpg)
In October 2005, Austal/General Dynamics was awarded a contract to build the first of their design for a Littoral Combat Ship
. The keel of the future USS Independence (LCS-2)
was laid on 19 January 2006 at Austal USA
's yard in Mobile, Alabama, and the naming ceremony was held on 4 October 2008. It is now operating with the fleet at its current location in Norfolk, Virginia.
The LCS 2 was the first ship built by Austal USA for the U.S. Navy and the Navy’s first Trimaran
Littoral Combat Ship. It is the first naval warship constructed in Mobile, Alabama since World War II. The basis of Austal's seaframe design is the 127 metre trimaran hull Benchijigua Express.
The originally planned second Austal/GD ship (LCS-4) was canceled on November 1, 2007.
On May 1, 2009, the Navy renewed the contract with Austal/GD to build the second LCS, the USS Coronado (LCS-4)
, with delivery scheduled for May 2012.
On 29 December 2010 the U.S Navy, as per their 3 November 2010 decision to award contracts for Littoral Combat Ship
s to both Austal USA and Lockheed Martin
, announced a new contract with Austal USA (who had separated from General Dynamics
Bath Iron Works
). The contract calls for one ship to be built now the USS Jackson (LCS-6)
, with another the USS Montgomery (LCS-8)
in 2011. Two more per year will follow in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The contract for the LCS 6 is for $432 million with a goal of having the average ship cost be $352 million per. Another $20 million is to be figured in for change orders, and a "management reserve" is also to be included.
In November 2008, Austal won the contract to design and build the US Department of Defence’s next generation high-speed catamaran, multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion.
As Prime contractor, Austal will design and construct the first 103-metre JHSV, with options for 9 additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13. Construction on the second ship started in September 2010. Austal now has contracts for three ships, long-lead material contracts for two ships and options for five further ships, for a total of ten.
The new JHSV is similar to the Austal-built WestPac Express
operated by the US Marines for the past seven years.
The JHSV will be able to carry 700 short tons (including M1 Abrams
main battle tanks) 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots (68.6 km/h) and be able to unload at roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities. It will be 103 meters long, 28.5 meters beam with a crew of 22 to 40.
The first three will be named Spearhead (JHSV 1), Vigilant (JHSV 2) and Fortitude (JHSV 3).
While the JHSV can carry 300 Marines and their gear for up to four days, it is not expected to be survivable against enemy attack.
Navy planners envision building up to two dozen of the JHSV ships over the next decade.
s to the Royal Australian Navy
for costal defense. These vessels were featured on the TV series Sea Patrol
.
, which are now hired out (with active duty Navy and Coast Guard crews) to protect private shippers.
Austal has five different production facilities, three of them on the Australian mainland, one in Margate
Margate, Tasmania
Margate is a small seaside town located on the Channel Highway between North-West Bay and the Snug Tiers, south of Kingston in Tasmania, Australia. At the 2006 census, Margate had a population of 1,368. Although more people live in the immediate region around the town...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and one in the United States. The mainland Australian shipyards are located in Henderson, Western Australia
Henderson, Western Australia
Henderson is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Cockburn.-History:The suburb of Henderson comprises land resumed by the Commonwealth Government in 1915 for defence purposes. A large naval base was planned by Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, and the was area sometimes...
; the one in the United States is based in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
Littoral combat ship
A Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...
. The keel of the future USS Independence (LCS-2)
USS Independence (LCS-2)
USS Independence is the lead ship for the Independence class of littoral combat ships. She will be the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the concept of independence...
was laid on 19 January 2006 at Austal USA
Austal USA
Austal USA is the American branch of operations for Australia-based shipbuilder Austal. The facility is based in Mobile, Alabama and employs more than 1000 workers with expansions currently underway.-History:...
's yard in Mobile, Alabama, and the naming ceremony was held on 4 October 2008. It is now operating with the fleet at its current location in Norfolk, Virginia.
The LCS 2 was the first ship built by Austal USA for the U.S. Navy and the Navy’s first Trimaran
Trimaran
A trimaran is a multihulled boat consisting of a main hull and two smaller outrigger hulls , attached to the main hull with lateral struts...
Littoral Combat Ship. It is the first naval warship constructed in Mobile, Alabama since World War II. The basis of Austal's seaframe design is the 127 metre trimaran hull Benchijigua Express.
The originally planned second Austal/GD ship (LCS-4) was canceled on November 1, 2007.
On May 1, 2009, the Navy renewed the contract with Austal/GD to build the second LCS, the USS Coronado (LCS-4)
USS Coronado (LCS-4)
USS Coronado will be an . She will be the third ship of the United States Navy to be named after Coronado, California. A contract was awarded to General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works in May 2009 for the construction of LCS-4....
, with delivery scheduled for May 2012.
On 29 December 2010 the U.S Navy, as per their 3 November 2010 decision to award contracts for Littoral Combat Ship
Littoral combat ship
A Littoral Combat Ship is a type of relatively small surface vessel intended for operations in the littoral zone . It is "envisioned to be a networked, agile, stealthy surface combatant capable of defeating anti-access and asymmetric threats in the littorals." Two ship classes are the first...
s to both Austal USA and Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
, announced a new contract with Austal USA (who had separated from General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works
Bath Iron Works is a major American shipyard located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine, United States. Since its founding in 1884 , BIW has built private, commercial and military vessels, most of which have been ordered by the United States Navy...
). The contract calls for one ship to be built now the USS Jackson (LCS-6)
USS Jackson (LCS-6)
USS Jackson will be an of the United States Navy. She will the first ship to be named for Jackson, the capital of Mississippi.Construction began on 1 August 2011 with the first cutting of aluminum at Austal USA's Modular Manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. The ship was christened on 5...
, with another the USS Montgomery (LCS-8)
USS Montgomery (LCS-8)
USS Montgomery will be an of the United States Navy. She will the second ship to be named for Montgomery, the capital of Alabama.-References:...
in 2011. Two more per year will follow in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. The contract for the LCS 6 is for $432 million with a goal of having the average ship cost be $352 million per. Another $20 million is to be figured in for change orders, and a "management reserve" is also to be included.
Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV)
As Prime contractor, Austal will design and construct the first 103-metre JHSV, with options for 9 additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13. Construction on the second ship started in September 2010. Austal now has contracts for three ships, long-lead material contracts for two ships and options for five further ships, for a total of ten.
The new JHSV is similar to the Austal-built WestPac Express
MV Westpac Express (HSV-4676)
MV Westpac Express is a high-speed catamaran built in 2001 by Austal Ltd. of Henderson, Western Australia. Chartered for the Marine Corps Logistics Prepositioning Ship Program by Military Sealift Command , the ship provided extensive logistics support to "Exercise Cobra Gold 2002". Cobra Gold...
operated by the US Marines for the past seven years.
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
main battle tanks) 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots (68.6 km/h) and be able to unload at roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities. It will be 103 meters long, 28.5 meters beam with a crew of 22 to 40.
The first three will be named Spearhead (JHSV 1), Vigilant (JHSV 2) and Fortitude (JHSV 3).
While the JHSV can carry 300 Marines and their gear for up to four days, it is not expected to be survivable against enemy attack.
Navy planners envision building up to two dozen of the JHSV ships over the next decade.
Armidale class
Between June 2005 and February 2008, Austal completed delivery of 14, 56.8-metres (186 ft) Armidale class patrol boatArmidale class patrol boat
The Armidale class is a class of patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy . Planning for a class of twelve vessels to replace the fifteen Fremantle class patrol boats began in 1993 as a joint project with the Royal Malaysian Navy, but was cancelled when Malaysia pulled out of the process...
s to the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
for costal defense. These vessels were featured on the TV series Sea Patrol
Sea Patrol
Sea Patrol may refer to:*Sea Patrol, an Australian television series from 2007-2011**Sea Patrol **Sea Patrol , known as Sea Patrol II: The Coup**Sea Patrol , known as Sea Patrol: Red Gold...
.
Yemen Navy patrol boats
In 2005, Austal delivered 10 high-speed patrol boats to the Yemen NavyYemen Navy
-History:Yemen's navy was created in 1990 when North and South Yemen united.Yemen early on had problems with trying to keep drugs from entering Yemen by sea. In 2006 Yemen purchased 10 Bay class patrol boats which were very effective at stopping smugglers from entering Yemen.In the Hanish Islands...
, which are now hired out (with active duty Navy and Coast Guard crews) to protect private shippers.