Austal USA
Encyclopedia
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.
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The company built the Lake Express
for service across Lake Michigan
, and the Alakai
for Hawaii Superferry
. Huakai
, the second high-speed vehicle-passenger catamaran
for Hawaii Superferry has been launched at Austal USA. At 113 meters (373 feet) long, the new vessel is 6 meters (19.8 feet) longer than the Alakai, thanks to a bi-fold ramp, added by Austal to its stern, for use in austere ports without shore-side loading facilities, making it suitable for military use. The National Geographic Channel series MegaStructures
featured an episode in September 2007 that detailed the construction, launch, and sea trials of the Alakai, the first catamaran Hawaii Superferry.
Austal USA is also currently constructing the Independence class
of littoral combat ship
s for the United States Navy
, based on a 127 m (417 ft) advanced trimaran
seaframe, with one completed and a second under construction as of 2010.
It was announced on November 13, 2008 that Austal USA had won a U. S. Navy contract to build ten high-speed transport ships, a design known as the Joint High Speed Vessel
with a catamaran seaframe. Unlike the Littoral Combat Ship, the Joint High Speed Vessel will be for transport, not combat.
The bankruptcy of Hawaii Superferry, and the construction problems on their first Littoral Combat Ship reduced Austal's profit margin to only $9.2 million on revenue of $500 million in 2009.
On on July 22, 2010, Austal USA hosted a keel-laying ceremony at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama to signify the erection of the first modules on
USAV Spearhead (JHSV 1)
, lead ship in the 10-ship Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program, The JHSV program has a potential worth of over $1.6 billion for the company.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
branch of operations for Australia-based shipbuilder
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
Austal
Austal
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....
. The facility 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...
and employs more than 1000 workers with expansions currently underway.
History
Austal USA has twice been found to have engaged in unfair labor practices. In March 2008, Austal USA was sued by 22 employees for racial discrimination and a hostile work environment.Projects
Lake Express
Lake Express is a high-speed auto and passenger ferry that is in service on a route across Lake Michigan. Lake Express links the cities of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan from late spring to the fall of each year.- Background :...
for service across Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, and the Alakai
Alakai
The Alakai is a vessel currently owned by the U.S. Maritime Administration. It was originally the Hawaii Superferry's first high-speed ferry...
for Hawaii Superferry
Hawaii Superferry
The Hawaii Superferry was a Hawaii-based transportation company that provided passenger and vehicle transportation between Honolulu Harbor on the island of Oahu and Kahului Harbor on Maui...
. Huakai
Huakai
Huakai was Hawaii Superferry's second vessel. The ship was completed in September 2008 and was intended to start service in May 2009, but the ship never entered service in Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language, huakai means "journey".-Vessel:...
, the second high-speed vehicle-passenger catamaran
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
for Hawaii Superferry has been launched at Austal USA. At 113 meters (373 feet) long, the new vessel is 6 meters (19.8 feet) longer than the Alakai, thanks to a bi-fold ramp, added by Austal to its stern, for use in austere ports without shore-side loading facilities, making it suitable for military use. The National Geographic Channel series MegaStructures
MegaStructures
MegaStructures is a documentary television series appearing on the National Geographic Channel and Five in the United Kingdom, on France 5 in France and on 7mate in Australia....
featured an episode in September 2007 that detailed the construction, launch, and sea trials of the Alakai, the first catamaran Hawaii Superferry.
Austal USA is also currently constructing the Independence class
Independence class littoral combat ship
The Independence class is a class of littoral combat ships built for the United States Navy.The hull design evolved from a project at Austal to design a 40 knot cruise ship...
of 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 for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, based on a 127 m (417 ft) advanced 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...
seaframe, with one completed and a second under construction as of 2010.
It was announced on November 13, 2008 that Austal USA had won a U. S. Navy contract to build ten high-speed transport ships, a design known as the Joint High Speed Vessel
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...
with a catamaran seaframe. Unlike the Littoral Combat Ship, the Joint High Speed Vessel will be for transport, not combat.
The bankruptcy of Hawaii Superferry, and the construction problems on their first Littoral Combat Ship reduced Austal's profit margin to only $9.2 million on revenue of $500 million in 2009.
On on July 22, 2010, Austal USA hosted a keel-laying ceremony at its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama to signify the erection of the first modules on
USAV Spearhead (JHSV 1)
Fortitude class Joint High Speed Vessel
Spearhead class Joint High Speed Vessel is a United States Navy-led shipbuilding program to provide "a platform intended to support users in the Department of the Navy and Department of the Army...
, lead ship in the 10-ship Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program, The JHSV program has a potential worth of over $1.6 billion for the company.