Austal Limited (Austal) has been awarded a contract for post-delivery support on USS Jackson (Littoral Combat Ship 6). The U.S. Navy awarded Austal USA a $7,120,153 modification to a previously awarded contract to exercise an option for post-delivery support for LCS 6.
Under the contract, Austal USA will perform planning and implementation of deferred design changes that were identified during the construction period.
Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said: “ As Austal’s shipbuilding program in the US continues to mature, so does our post-delivery service and support capabilities, as evidenced by this award. ”
“ We are focused on positioning our US shipyard to win further support work as we continue to expand its service and repair capabilities. ”
Austal has a US$3.5 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to build 10 Littoral Combat Ships, with 6 vessels funded, and a separate US$1.6 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to build 10 103-meter Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSVs), which are fully funded.
The LCS program is at full capacity at Austal’s Mobile shipyard, with five ships currently under construction. USS Coronado (LCS 4), which was constructed under a separate contract with General Dynamics, was delivered to the Navy in September 2013 and is scheduled to be commissioned at a ceremony in California in April 2014. USS Jackson (LCS 6) – Austal’s first as prime contractor to the U.S. Navy – was launched in December 2013 and is preparing for sea trials. USS Montgomery (LCS 8) is being assembled in Bay 4 in preparation for launch in Q4 FY2014. Final assembly has begun in Bay 5 on USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) and modules for USS Omaha (LCS 12) are under construction in the Module Manufacturing Facility. Fabrication on USS Manchester (LCS 14) – Austal’s fifth vessel as prime contractor – began in January 2014.
Austal, March 6, 2014; Image: Wikipedia