Austal USA has delivered the future USS Savannah to the U.S. Navy. It’s the 14th littoral combat ship delivered by Austal and the seventh in the past two years.
This ship was completed in less than three years, a full year less time in production than earlier ships in this program.
“Delivering yet another quality ship on time and on budget demonstrates the important role Austal USA plays in the shipbuilding industrial base and value of Austal USA’s highly skilled workforce. Delivering two major ship programs on schedule and on budget is something our team is incredibly proud of,” said Rusty Murdaugh, Austal USA interim president. “It has been especially rewarding to hear the very positive feedback from the Navy commanders and sailors on how well these ships are performing operationally, especially in the in the South China Sea where they are conducting routine patrols.”
The Mobile shipbuilder has five LCS craft and two expeditionary fast transport craft under construction, with work set to begin shortly on one more of each craft. In addition, the firm has a design contract for a new Light Amphibious Warship. If Austal also wins the construction contract, it will mark the first craft to be built at the company’s new steel construction facility, which is under construction at the company’s waterfront site.
Subsidiary of the Australian shipbuilder Austal, Austal USA entered the US marketplace in 2004 and is now the fifth largest shipbuilder in the country. It is Mobile’s largest industrial employer, with 3,300 workers.
