Austal awarded contract for another Navy towing, salvage, and rescue ship
Austal USA has been awarded a contract for an additional Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ship (T-ATS 15) for the U.S. Navy. With the award, the company is now under contract for five T-ATS, having received awards for T-ATS 13 and 14 in July 2022 and T-ATS 11 and 12 in October 2021. Paddy Gregg is Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer. Gregg said that the contract award again highlights Austal USA’s growing steel shipbuilding capability following the start of construction on T-ATS 11 and 12 and, more recently, the Auxiliary Floating Dock Medium for the United States Navy. “Austal USA’s steel shipbuilding capabilities and capacity continues to impress, with three steel vessels now underway in Mobile, Alabama, in addition to the multiple aluminum vessels and component projects also under construction,” CEO Gregg said. “In addition to the LCS, EPF, and T-ATS programs, construction has just commenced on the steel Auxiliary Floating Dock Medium (AFDM), which will further demonstrate Austal USA’s capabilities and capacity to deliver large steel vessels for the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard.” “The Austal USA team are also delivering submarine modules for the Virginia-class submarines and aircraft elevators for the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, so they are without doubt making a significant contribution to the United States’ defense industrial base,” Gregg added. T-ATS is an ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue ship designed to support the United States Navy’s fleet operations, with a multi-mission common hull platform capable of towing heavy ships. The ships can support a variety of missions, including oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, and surveillance. Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones told Alabama Today, “Members of Austal USA’s quality and skilled workforce are equipped to handle complex tasks. The company, which started in Mobile in 1999 with 100 employees on a 14-acre campus, has grown to over 3,000 employees and 165 acres. At their state-of-the-art enclosed steel production facility in Mobile, Austal USA integrates lean manufacturing, modular construction, and moving assembly lines into its proven shipbuilding processes. The contract award translates into local jobs and reaffirms Austal’s longstanding commitment to the State of Alabama and their role in national security.” Construction is due to commence on T-ATS 13 and 14 in the second half of this year. T-ATS 15 is scheduled to commence construction in the first half of 2024, with delivery planned in late 2027. Austal USA utilizes its proven ship manufacturing processes and innovative methods that incorporate lean manufacturing principles, modular construction, and moving assembly lines, all housed under the company’s state-of-the-art enclosed steel production facility in Mobile, Alabama. In addition to T-ATS, Austal USA is currently constructing the United States Navy’s Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport ships and has commenced construction of a 211-meter steel Auxiliary Floating Drydock (Medium). In May, Austal USA was awarded a contract for the detail, design, and construction of up to 7 steel T-AGOS Ocean Surveillance Ships worth up to US$3.2 billion, and in 2022, the company was awarded a contract for up to 11 steel Offshore Patrol Cutters for the United States Coast Guard, worth up to U.S. $3.3 billion. Austal is a major employer in Southwest Alabama. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
