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Austal Limited is pleased to announce Austal USA has been awarded its first steel vessel construction contract by the United States Navy, a US$145 million (~A$198.5 million) build of two Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ships (T-ATS 11 and 12). The contract modification establishes options for up to three additional T-ATS ships, which, if exercised, will bring the total cumulative value…
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Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker announced July 16 that a future Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship will be named to honor the San Diego seaside community of Point Loma. The future USNS Point Loma (T-EPF-15) will be the second naval vessel to bear this name, the first being a deep submergence support ship that was decommissioned…
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Apologies for poor quality of this US Navy photo. April 21, 2021 – The future USS Mobile (LCS 26), the U.S. Navy’s newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), will be commissioned May 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (CT) in Mobile, Alabama. Due to ongoing public health and safety concerns related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the ceremony will take…
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March 29, 2021 – Austal Limited is pleased to announce that construction has officially commenced on Austal USA’s new steel shipbuilding facility, in Mobile, Alabama. Austal USA hosted a ceremony at the company’s shipyard on Friday 26th March 2021, to mark the start of construction of a new steel shipbuilding facility that will provide the capability to meet increasing demand…
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October 30, 2020 – The U.S. Navy held a keel-laying ceremony on Oct. 27 for the future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) at the Austal USA shipyard. Lolita Zinke, the ship’s sponsor, authenticated the keel in a small ceremony, with limited attendance due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Santa Barbara’s sponsor, Zinke serves as…
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October 8, 2020 – The future USS Mobile (LCS 26) successfully concluded its acceptance trial in the Gulf of Mexico Sept. 25 after a series of in-port and underway demonstrations. The Navy conducted comprehensive tests of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship’s systems during the trial, spanning multiple functional areas including main propulsion, auxiliaries and electrical systems. LCS 26 also performed…
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October 8, 2020 – The future USS Mobile (LCS 26) successfully concluded its acceptance trial in the Gulf of Mexico Sept. 25 after a series of in-port and underway demonstrations. The Navy conducted comprehensive tests of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship’s systems during the trial, spanning multiple functional areas including main propulsion, auxiliaries and electrical systems. LCS 26 also performed…
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September 3, 2020 – The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the twelfth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, USNS Newport (T-EPF 12), Sep. 2. EPFs are designed to operate in shallow waterways and are capable of a wide range of activities. The vessels are versatile, non-combatant, transport ships that are being used for high-speed transportation of troops, military vehicles, and equipment.…
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August 3, 2020 – The U.S. Navy’s twelfth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, USNS Newport (T-EPF 12), successfully competed Integrated Sea Trials, July 30. Integrated Trials combine Builder’s and Acceptance Trials, allowing for the shipyard to demonstrate to the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey the operational capability and mission readiness of all the ship’s systems during a single underway…
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June 29, 2020 – The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Oakland (LCS 24) during a ceremony at Austal USA in Mobile, June 26. Oakland is the 22nd littoral combat ship (LCS) and the 12th of the Independence variant to join the fleet. Its delivery marks the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy, bringing…
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