Company Profile
Austal USA
Company Overview
Austal commenced operations in 1988 with a vision to build high quality commercial vessels for the international market. By the company's fifth anniversary, Austal had become the world's leading manufacturer of 40 metre passenger catamarans and the dominant supplier to Asia.
It was in Hong Kong as early as 1993, that Austal introduced gas turbine propulsion and the first two installations of the Austal developed motion control system. The success in Asia and the introduction of a range of sophisticated, large vehicle-carrying fast ferries were the springboard for ongoing growth in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Asia-Pacific.
Today, Austal is the world's largest builder of fast ferries and is proud to list amongst its customers many of the world's leading fast ferry and shipping operators.
Austal listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in December 1998 and has diversified its product base through acquisitions of local shipbuilders and the establishment of a new US shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
In 1998 Austal entered the patrol boat market securing an order for eight Bay Class vessels for the Australian Customs Service. Sizeable orders from other Australian and International agencies, including the Royal Australian Navy, have cemented the company's place among the world's elite patrol vessel builders.
In 2001, Austal became the first company to supply the US military with a high speed vessel, the Theatre Support Vessel (TSV).
In 2004 the US Department of Defense awarded a final design contract for the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project to prime contractor Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics company teamed with Austal who is the LCS seaframe designer and builder. The first order for a US $223 million prototype was successfully awarded to the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team in October 2005.
The US Navy LCS is based on the same 127 metre trimaran hullform of a revolutionary fast ferry delivered in 2005 that not only provided full scale validation for the LCS proposal but, by showing increased passenger comfort in operation, adds further impetus to the already strong interest being shown in trimarans by ferry and defence operators.
There is little doubt, Austal provides one of the most substantial product bases of any shipbuilder worldwide.
This includes passenger and vehicle-passenger ferries, coastal combat ships, high speed military support vessels, patrol boats, cruise vessels, live-aboards, offshore crew/supply boats and private vessels.
Austal's success in aluminium ship building is based on:
In-house design offering customisation and flexibility
High quality technologically advanced and market proven product
Diversified product range
Focus on meeting agreed customer requirements
Productive, skilled and stable workforce
On-time and on-budget delivery
Financial strength and sound management
Price competitive
Company History
Austal's yard in Mobile, Alabama, established in 1999 delivers a new dimension in high-speed marine transport, utilising the company's leading edge technology and design capabilities, not previously available to US customers.
The Austal quality culture is embodied through significant inter-site transfer between the Mobile yard and the headquarters in Western Australia.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Austal commenced operations in 1988 with a vision to build high quality commercial vessels for the international market. By the company's fifth anniversary, Austal had become the world's leading manufacturer of 40 metre passenger catamarans and the dominant supplier to Asia.
It was in Hong Kong as early as 1993, that Austal introduced gas turbine propulsion and the first two installations of the Austal developed motion control system. The success in Asia and the introduction of a range of sophisticated, large vehicle-carrying fast ferries were the springboard for ongoing growth in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Asia-Pacific.
Today, Austal is the world's largest builder of fast ferries and is proud to list amongst its customers many of the world's leading fast ferry and shipping operators.
Austal listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in December 1998 and has diversified its product base through acquisitions of local shipbuilders and the establishment of a new US shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
In 1998 Austal entered the patrol boat market securing an order for eight Bay Class vessels for the Australian Customs Service. Sizeable orders from other Australian and International agencies, including the Royal Australian Navy, have cemented the company's place among the world's elite patrol vessel builders.
In 2001, Austal became the first company to supply the US military with a high speed vessel, the Theatre Support Vessel (TSV).
In 2004 the US Department of Defense awarded a final design contract for the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project to prime contractor Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics company teamed with Austal who is the LCS seaframe designer and builder. The first order for a US $223 million prototype was successfully awarded to the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team in October 2005.
The US Navy LCS is based on the same 127 metre trimaran hullform of a revolutionary fast ferry delivered in 2005 that not only provided full scale validation for the LCS proposal but, by showing increased passenger comfort in operation, adds further impetus to the already strong interest being shown in trimarans by ferry and defence operators.
There is little doubt, Austal provides one of the most substantial product bases of any shipbuilder worldwide.
This includes passenger and vehicle-passenger ferries, coastal combat ships, high speed military support vessels, patrol boats, cruise vessels, live-aboards, offshore crew/supply boats and private vessels.
Austal's success in aluminium ship building is based on:
In-house design offering customisation and flexibility
High quality technologically advanced and market proven product
Diversified product range
Focus on meeting agreed customer requirements
Productive, skilled and stable workforce
On-time and on-budget delivery
Financial strength and sound management
Price competitive
Benefits
8 Paid Holidays / 2 Paid Personal Days per year
3 Weeks paid vacation after 3 years / 1 week paid vacation in 1st year
401K with Company match