Austal

Austal is an Australian shipyard, which specializes in catamaran ferries and ships in aluminum construction.

History

The company was founded in 1988 in Henderson, Western Australia. The goal was the production of high quality ships for the international market. Five years after founding the company Austal was the world leader in 40m - passenger catamarans. The great success in the Asian market and the entry into automobile ferries opened the company in 1993 into new markets in Europe, the Mediterranean and Asia- Pacific.

In 1998 the company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, and during the same year in the production of coast guard ships. Also in 1998, an existing, specialized in Aluminium shipyard was taken over in Tasmania, and established for the local U.S. market a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. This gave the company the opportunity to become suppliers to the U.S. Navy.

Since then, the development and construction of military vessels plays an important role at Austal. 2001 Austal the first supplier in the U.S. Navy for TSV - ships, since 2004, the company is involved on a project managed by General Dynamics consortium for the development of LCS ships of the Independence class. 2008 Austal won the bid for the U.S. Navy JHSV ships.

Besides the military sector Austal built his production of civilian ships and fast ferries continuously advancing, and is now the world's leader in high-speed ferries. The parallel development of civil and military ships ensures beneficial synergies. So, for example, based the fast ferries as the Benchijigua Express and the LCS -2 ships on the same basic principle.

Locations

At the main location in Henderson, Western Australia, Austal has three single sites with a total of nine Bauhallen. The fourth Australian site with a construction hall is located in Margate on the island of Tasmania. For the orders from the U.S. Navy operates Austal in Mobile, Alabama, another shipyard with three Bauhallen.

Products

The product range comprises of Austal in civilian passenger and vehicle ferries, private yachts, cruise ships, offshore supply vessels, barges, and the official / military range patrol boats, littoral combat ships and high-speed military supply ships.

For the different ship classes Austal has their own names, which is attached as a number of the ship's length. Ferries for combined passenger - transport vehicle carrying the designation "Vehicle Passenger", the fast ferries for passenger and vehicle transportation are called " Auto Express ".

United States Maritime Administration after bankruptcy and abandon ship by Hawaii Superferry

Pictures

Benchijigua Express

Villum Clausen

Spirit of Ontario 1

Lake Express

Alakai