Austal’s shipyards and service centres in Australia have been cleared to bid for providing support services for United States Navy (USN) and Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships, the shipbuilder has announced.
Austal CEO David Singleton said that with the Agreement of Boat Repair (ABR) now in place, the company’s Australian operations may now bid to provide emergent repair services to deployed USN ships, including the Austal designed and constructed Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS).
He said the ABR also allows Austal to bid for maintenance and repair of MSC ships deployed to the region, to include the Austal designed and constructed Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessels.
“With this approval, Austal can provide a range of vessel repairs, maintenance and in-service support to U.S. Navy and MSC ships operating throughout South East Asia,” Mr Singleton said.
“As the designer and builder, no-one knows the Independence-class LCS or Spearhead-class EPF better than us, and we’re naturally very pleased and proud to now have the opportunity to provide local support for these vessels to the U.S. Navy, as opportunities arise.”
