Austal USA will build two Towing, Salvage and Rescue ships (T-ATS 11 and 12) for the U.S. Navy in a new contract worth $145 million.
Austal was initially awarded a $3.6 million contract by the U.S. Navy for the functional design of the Navajo-class T-ATS vessels. The contract modification establishes options for up to three additional T-ATS ships, which, if exercised, will bring the total cumulative value of the contract to $385 million.
The T-ATS contract is the first steel ship construction program awarded by the U.S. Navy to Austal USA and will be the first program to be delivered in the new steel shipbuilding facilities nearing completion at the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
“This is great news for Austal USA as they enter a new era of steel shipbuilding in the United States, supporting the Navy’s requirements for steel ships,” said Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer, Paddy Gregg.
The 80 metre Navajo-class T-ATS have ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities, with a multi-mission common hull platform, capable of towing heavy ships. These ships will be able to support U.S. Navy fleet operations and a variety of missions, including oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, and wide area search and surveillance.
Austal USA will utilize its proven ship manufacturing processes and innovative methods that incorporate lean manufacturing principles, modular construction and moving assembly lines; using the company’s new state-of-the-art enclosed steel production facility which is set to open in April 2022.
