Austal USA awarded order and options for ten LCS trimarans

摘要

Austal USA is expected to increase the workforce at its Mobile, Alabama, yard from 1,800 to 3,800 employees after being awarded a contract from the United States Navy for a third 127m Littoral Combat Ship trimaran plus options for another nine vessels to be ordered during the next five years. Austal USA delivered LCS 2 Independence in December 2009 and is due to hand over LCS 4 Coronado in May 2012. Construction of the third Austal LCS will commence in early 2012 and the vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 2015.The builder reports, "Austal will immediately commence preparation work, including a $140 million facility expansion and workforce development which will take approximately 12 months to complete.