UPDATE austaL usa wins shipyard safety award
uscG orDers more rb-s iis The u.s. coasT guard has ordered more Response Boats-Small IIs (RB-S II). Metal Shark Aluminum Boats, Jeanerette, LA, received a $5 million order for 15 RB-S IIs, bringing the total number of RB-S II orders to 99 boats. the RB-S II replaces the Defender-class RB-S fleet. the Coast Guard currently operates over 400 Defender-class RB-S, making it the largest vessel class in the Coast Guard fleet. the RB-S II is a multi-mission platform craft that can be used for a full range of
Coast Guard missions, including: search and rescue, vessel boarding team deployment and law enforcement missions, port security, drug and migrant interdiction and environmental response operations. At 29 ft, the RB-S II can reach a top speed of 45 knots and has a minimum range of 150 nautical miles. to date, 56 RB-S IIs have been delivered to the Coast Guard. Back in 2011, the Coast Guard awarded a delivery order valued at about $13 million to Metal Shark for the production of 38 RB-S II.
14 MARINE LOG October 2013
amerIcan equITy underwrITers, Inc. (AEU), awarded Austal USA, Mobile, AL, a member of the American Longshore Mutual Association (ALMA), with its 2012 Safety and Health Award for a large shipyard. The award, given annually to the best performing ALMA members, is based on the number of accidents, and the severity of accidents, for the calendar year. Jimmy Burgin, AEU Senior Vice President and Director of Loss Control, presented Austal USA President, Craig Perciavalle, with the award. “We are extremely proud of this award as the safety and health of our employees is our top priority,” said Perciavalle. Earlier this year, the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) honored Austal with its Award for Excellence in Safety for the fourth consecutive year. The honor is awarded to the shipyard members of the SCA with the lowest total recordable incidence rates (TRIR) based on quarterly injury and illness reports submitted to the SCA. This year, Austal contributed to the SCA’s lowest TRIR averages ever—65% below the industry average.