Austal USA demonstrates available capacity to visiting Navy leaders
MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA hosted several high-ranking naval officers and senior executives for a tour of its state-of-the-art ship manufacturing facilities in Mobile, Ala., Oct 5th. The group included Rear Adm. Tom Anderson, Program Executive Officer, Ships (PEO Ships); Brigadier General Marcus Annibale, Director of Expeditionary Warfare (OPNAV N95); Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker, Program Executive Officer, Attack Submarines (PEO SSN); and Ms. Meganne Atkins, PEO SSN In Service Executive Director (Acting).
During the visit, Austal USA demonstrated its growing capability and capacity to manufacture complex components and ship programs. With initial production efforts commencing this fall on the Virginia-class Command and Control Systems Modules and Electronic Deck Modules, the visit provided PEO SSN leaders an opportunity to review production readiness of the Austal USA Mobile facility. PEO Ships and N95 similarly spent time discussing current production progress and the ability to meet future requirements.
“We’re always honored to host our Navy and USMC partners to show them our facility and the quality work produced by our talented workforce,” stated Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh. “We are committed to finding innovative solutions, working hard, and investing in our people, processes, and facilities to meet the future needs of the Navy and USCG.”
Austal USA’s purpose-built manufacturing facility located in Mobile, Ala. was established in 1999 as a green field and has grown to over 165 acres with over a million square feet of indoor production space capable of producing steel and aluminum ships. The company has invested $560 million to date, recently opening a 117,000 square foot steel manufacturing facility, housing state-of-the-art computerized and robotic steel processing equipment.
Coinciding with Austal USA’s facility investments are expansions to its product lines. Growing from being the prime contractor of the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship and Expeditionary Fast Transport programs, Austal USA is now under contract for six additional shipbuilding programs across the Navy and Coast Guard. Austal USA is also providing major components for the aircraft carrier and submarine programs and is growing its autonomy business with production of EPF 13, Overlord unmanned surface vessels, Saildrone Surveyors, and its in-house designed machinery control system.
“Having a purpose-built shipyard with available capacity to expand our footprint positions us to be agile and meet our customers’ needs in stride,” stated Mike Bell, Austal USA senior vice president of operations. “Additionally, with our adherence to lean manufacturing principles and a strong commitment to the training and retention of a highly skilled workforce, Austal USA is ready to take on more work.”
Austal has delivered 28 battle force ships to the Navy since 2009. The company’s investments have also included the establishment of ship service facilities in Mobile, Ala., San Diego, Calif., and Singapore.
