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USA
from M51
Reporting on the latest developments from the USA’s maritime sector
USA
Austal USA celebrates opening of steel facility
American shipbuilder Austal USA has celebrated the opening of the company’s state-of-the-art steel facility. The addition of steel shipbuilding capability compliments the company’s well-established aluminium shipbuilding expertise.
This $100 million investment is expected to create jobs and spur economic growth throughout the region.
“We are so excited to see our plans to add steel to our capabilities come to fruition,” said Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh. “The addition of steel capability is a game changer as it opens up our capability to support the US Navy, US Coast Guard and other customers with high-quality ships. We appreciate the confidence the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy have shown in us with the award of the DPA grant to get this project started and look forward to repaying that confidence with our future performance delivering high-quality steel ships.”
The 117,000 sqft manufacturing addition will house the latest state-of-the-art computerised and robotic steel processing equipment to handle all of the current and future demands of the U.S. Navy and the US Coast Guard. A 60,000 square foot stock yard will be utilised for handling the raw steel and a 19,500sqft paint facility will provide the ability to paint and blast simultaneously in two separate cells, or both cells can be combined providing the ability to paint super-modules.
Lean manufacturing principles
“Austal USA will operate our steel production line using the same lean manufacturing principles that we’ve refined over the last 15 years building LCS and EPFs for the Navy,” continued Mr Murdaugh. “That process has resulted in Austal’s reputation for delivering quality ships on time and on budget ship after ship. We will bring that same reliable production capability to steel ship construction.”
Austal has delivered 15 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and 12 Expeditionary Fast Transports (EPF) to the Navy while another seven total aluminium Navy ships are under construction. The company is also under contract to build two Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ships (T-ATS); these will be the first steel ships constructed in the new facility.
Financing for the new steel production line was provided in part by a Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Agreement between the US Department of Defense, in support of the US Navy shipbuilding industrial base, and Austal USA. The agreement, valued at $50 million, was announced in June 2020 and was part of the national response to Covid-19 to maintain, protect, and expand critical domestic shipbuilding and maintenance capacity. Austal USA matched these funds and invested an additional $50 million into the completion of the steel facility.
Austal awarded $230.5m EPF 16 contract
The opening of the new steel facility follows the recent news that Austal USA was awarded a $230.5 million contract for the detail design and construction of EPF 16, the Navy’s newest EPF ship.
EPFs have demonstrated their operational capability to conduct a variety of missions to include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, maritime security, surveillance, command and control, and counter narcotic missions around the globe.
“Like the previously delivered EPFs, EPF 16 will benefit from the serial production of this program, resulting not only in a worldclass ship but also providing assurance to the US Navy that capability will be delivered on budget and on schedule,” said Mr Murdaugh. “Our reputation for delivering quality is a direct reflection of the commitment and dedication of our talented shipbuilders and suppliers.”
EPF 16 will be the third ship constructed in the Flight II configuration. Flight II ships will enhance the original capabilities of the Spearhead class through incorporation of reconfigurable spaces for operating rooms and postsurgical recovery efforts.
Construction efforts on EPF 16 are expected to commence later this year with delivery projected for 2025. n
