| Type | Public ASX:(ASB) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | 100 Dunlap Drive Mobile, Alabama, USA |
| Products | Aluminium commercial and defense vessels |
| Employees | 1000+ |
| Website | www.austal.com |
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.[1][2]
Contents |
Austal USA has twice been found to have engaged in unfair labor practices.[3] In March 2008, Austal USA was sued by 22 employees for racial discrimination and a hostile work environment.[4]
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.[5]
Austal USA is also currently constructing the Independence class of littoral combat ships 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.[6]
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.[1]
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.[7]
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.[8]