Austal USA has secured a fixed-price incentive contract option worth approximately $79 million from the US Navy for the construction of an extra Navajo-class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship (TATS 15).
With this recent award, Austal is currently committed to the production of five T-ATS vessels, as the company previously received contracts for T-ATS 13 and 14 in July 2022, as well as T-ATS 11 and 12 in October 2021.
T-ATS vessels are ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue ships designed to support the US Navy’s operations. They have a versatile hull capable of towing heavy ships and can perform missions such as oil spill response, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, and surveillance. Construction for T-ATS 13 and 14 begins in late 2023, while T-ATS 15 starts in early 2024, with delivery planned for late 2027.
“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 aluminium vessels and component projects also under construction,” said Paddy Gregg, Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer.
“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’ defence industrial base.”
Apart from the T-ATS vessels, Austal USA is also involved in the construction of the United States Navy’s Independence-variant littoral combat ships and spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ships. Additionally, Austal USA has recently started the construction of a 211-meter steel Auxiliary Floating Drydock (Medium).
Austal USA achieved a significant milestone in May 2023 by securing a contract for the detailed design and construction of potentially seven steel T-AGOS Ocean Surveillance Ships. This contract holds a value of up to $3.2B. Furthermore, in 2022, the company was awarded a contract worth up to $3.3B for the construction of up to eleven steel Offshore Patrol Cutters for the United States Coast Guard.
