Austal is pleased to announce that November 2014 will see Austal formally commence full time operations in Cairns, Australia. This move remains part of Austal's continued expansion across Northern Australia in support of what is an increasing and significant number of Austal designed and built defence assets either based in Northern Australia or tasked to the various areas of operation across the region.

Integrated with and supported by Austal teams in Darwin and other states across Australia, this move further enhances Austal's asset management and full life cycle sustainment capability in the defence space.

Armidale and Cape Class Patrol Boats

In addition to other national and international owned Austal designed and built vessels either based in Northern Australia or operated across the region, in August 2011, Austal was awarded a $330 million prime contract for the design, construction and through life sustainment of eight new Cape Class patrol boats for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACPBS). The third vessel was recently delivered into border force operations with the remainder due to be delivered to ACPBS by August 2015. Austal's long term sustainment of the Cape Class fleet is contracted for a minimum period of eight years (with follow on options).  

Austal Australia President, Graham Backhouse commented;

"Strategically, this is another important step in growing Austal's presence across Australia to support both national and international operators of Austal designed and built defence assets.

Austal's focus is on our customers, and their need to have assets available for operations as required. Austal's ongoing growth in delivering sustainable availability outcomes is simply part of our responsibility as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of state of the art maritime capability across the Ships, Systems and Support space. In doing so, Austal continues to establish itself as a major provider of domestic and worldwide vessel sustainment, and our growing support mechanism for the Cape Class fleet in Cairns and Darwin underpins our commitment to provide full maritime asset management services for the entire life cycle of Australian patrol boats, both current and future."

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About Austal

Austal is a global defence prime contractor and a designer and manufacturer of defence and commercial ships. For more than 25 years Austal has been a leader in the design, construction and maintenance of revolutionary ships for Governments, Navies and Ferry operators around the world. More than 250 vessels have been delivered in that time.

Ships

Defence vessels designed and built by Austal include multi-mission combatants, such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for the United States Navy and military high speed vessels for transport and humanitarian relief, such as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) for the United States Navy and High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) for the Royal Navy of Oman. Austal also designs, constructs, integrates and maintains an extensive range of patrol and auxiliary vessels for government agencies globally, including the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program for Australian Customs and Border Protection. Defence vessels are designed and constructed in Mobile, Alabama and in Henderson, Western Australia.

Austal has been at the forefront of the high speed ferry market since the early days of the industry. Our market leading designs of high performance aluminium vessels have long been at the heart of Austal's research and development. Today, commercial ship construction is centred on our shipyard in Balamban, Philippines.

Systems

Austal has expertise in integrating complex systems into its ships, including ride control, ship management, and communication, sensors and weapon systems.

Support

Austal provides a wide range of support services, including through life support, integrated logistics support, vessel sustainment and systems support. These services are delivered through our global support network in the USA, Australia, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East together with partner shipyards worldwide.



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