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Austal USA is an American Shipbuilding based on Blakeley Island in Mobile, Alabama. It is a subsidiary of the Australian shipbuilder Austal, operating under a Special Security Arrangement which allows it to work independently and separately on some of the most sensitive United States defense programs despite its foreign ownership.
Austal USA was formed in 1999 when Austal formed a 70:30 joint venture with Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co to build ferries.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> US Joint Venture Austal December 21, 1999 Austal bought out its partner in September 2006.
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Austal Acquires Minority Interest Austal September 18, 2006
Notable projects for the shipbuilder include the United States Navy's Independence class littoral combat ship (first launched in 2008) Spearhead class expeditionary fast transport (first launched in 2010), and United States Coast Guard's Heritage-class cutter (contract awarded in 2022).
Austal USA 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 was launched at Austal USA. At long, the new vessel is 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.
Austal USA is currently constructing the Independence class of littoral combat ships for the United States Navy, based on a advanced trimaran seaframe. In March 2015, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus testified before Congress that the Navy intends to purchase 52 of the vessels. The final 20 will be upgraded with new capabilities. The cost of each ship is about $350 million.
In November 2008, Austal USA won a United States Navy contract to build ten Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ships. The design, with a catamaran seaframe, was drawn from the Austal-built MV Westpac Express. Unlike the Littoral Combat Ship, the Joint High Speed Vessel is for transport, not combat. Austal in Mobile wins $1.6B Navy contract Press-Register November 3, 2008
In July 2010, Austal USA hosted a keel-laying ceremony at its shipyard 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. "Keel Laying Ceremony for Spearhead JHSV." Maritime News. Retrieved July 23, 2010. In December 2012, the navy awarded its final option under its current contract, and ordered JHSV-10.
Austal USA signed a contract for 10 Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSVs). One of them, the Trenton (JHSV 5) completed acceptance trials in March 2015 and was delivered in April 2015 to the Navy's Military Sealift Command.
In May 2016, Austal USA was awarded a $18.5 million contract from the Navy for the 12th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel.
On June 30, 2022, the United States Coast Guard awarded Austal USA a contract to build up to 11 Offshore Patrol Cutters under Phase 2 of the program, with a potential total combined price of $3.3 billion if all 11 ships are ordered.
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