Austal launches USNS Choctaw County Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV 2)

Brian Leathers, Austal USA Interim President and Chief Financial Officer commented: “This is the ship’s first voyage, one of many in its future. Austal designed this ship to serve as a rapid transit workhorse for our military to assist in humanitarian efforts and to transport troops and their equipment from port to port. It is due to the important role that it will play in intra-theatre deployment / transportation that the Austal JHSV team takes such pride in our part in facilitating the success of the JHSV program.”

                         

On October 1, 2012, Austal USA successfully completed the launch process of the second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), the recently christened USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2). This 103-metre high-speed catamaran represents the US Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform. It is part of a 10-ship program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion.

                         

The launch of USNS Choctaw County was conducted in a multi-step process as follows:

1. On Sunday, September 30, Goldhofer self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) lifted the entire 1,600-metric-ton ship almost three feet (0.9m) in the air and moved the JHSV approximately 400 feet (120m) onto a moored deck barge adjacent to the assembly bay.

2. The deck barge with USNS Choctaw County onboard was towed a half mile down river to BAE Systems’ Southeast Shipyard, Mobile.

3. The vessel was transferred to the Drydock Alabama, BAE’s floating dry dock.

4. October 1, the floating dry dock was submerged and USNS Choctaw County entered the water for the first time.

5. USNS Choctaw County was taken from the drydock and towed back up river to Austal USA’s facility, where it will undergo final outfitting and activation before sea trials and delivery to the Navy.

This process was initially used during the launch event for the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship Coronado (LCS 4) in January 2012. A major improvement in safety and efficiency, the new roll-out method has reduced the time of the transfer process, and serves as a capstone in Austal’s effort to reduce cost and time required in future JHSV and LCS deliveries.

                         

On October 1, 2012, Austal USA successfully completed the launch process of the second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), the recently christened USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2). This 103-metre high-speed catamaran represents the US Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform. It is part of a 10-ship program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion.

BAE Systems Southeast Shipyard’s Director and General Manager, Vic Rhoades said: “The opportunity to team with the professional men and women of Austal to successfully launch USNS Choctaw County (JHSV 2) is a positive step for both organizations. By working together we can take advantage of the synergies of both shipyards by providing the knowledge and experience from our individual areas of expertise that will grow our respective businesses and allow us to provide quality products at competitive prices to our customers.”

Regarding the partnership between Austal and Berard Transportation, Braedon Berard COO commented: “Berard's goal from the beginning has and always will be to assist the Austal team in safely and efficiently launching the JHSV, utilizing the most technologically advanced equipment and experienced personnel in the nation. We feel that helping Austal, and in return the United States Navy, is an honor that deserves our utmost effort and we look forward to future endeavors”.

Austal USA is a full-service shipyard offering design, construction and high-speed vessel service and repair. As Austal USA continues to expand its service and repair capabilities, the company is well positioned for new business with engineering, test and trials capabilities, and a new waterfront facility all co-located on the Mobile Bay waterfront.

Austal is currently under contract with the US Navy to build nine 103-meter JHSVs under a 10-ship, $1.6 billion contract and five 127-meter Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class vessels, four of which are a part of a 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract.

For the LCS and JHSV programs, Austal, as prime contractor, is teamed with General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics. As the ship systems integrator, General Dynamics is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ship’s electronic systems including the combat system, networks, and seaframe control. General Dynamics’ proven open architecture approach allows for affordable and efficient capability growth as technologies develop.

These two contracts will require Austal to increase its Mobile, Alabama workforce to approximately 4,000 employees in order to fulfill the contract requirements. “With almost ten per cent of these workers expected to reside in the neighboring states of Florida and Mississippi,” said Leathers, “we are proud that Austal is an engine of regional growth for the Gulf.”

Austal on track as Cape Class Patrol Boat keel layed.

Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal today hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the first of eight high performance patrol boats it is building for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Keel-laying traditionally marks the first significant milestone in a ship’s construction. Historically this was the “laying down” of the main timber making up the backbone of a vessel. Austal’s advanced shipbuilding techniques means fabrication of ship modules begins well before they are actually joined. So today Austal celebrates keel-laying when modules are brought together for final assembly.

Although Austal’s design and manufacturing approach is thoroughly modern, the ceremony retained long held shipbuilding traditions. This included placing specially minted coins under a keel block as a symbol of good fortune and to bless the ship. These coins will be removed just prior to the patrol boat’s launch which is scheduled for later this year.

Coins were placed by Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon. Jason Clare MP; Customs and Border Protection Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Carmody; and Austal Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew Bellamy. Austal also invited Mr Clare to authenticate the keel by marking his initials on part of the boat’s aluminium structure. He was assisted by Richard Taylor, Austal’s Apprentice of the Year for 2011, who has now completed his apprenticeship and is working as a fabricator on the Cape Class program.

 Austal CEO Andrew Bellamy places a coin in a keel block, watched by Hon Jason Clare, Australia's Minister for Home Affairs (centre) and Customs and Border Protection CEO Michael Carmody (right)

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Bellamy said the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program was demonstrating Austal’s broad capability and world leadership in the defence field.

“Like our US Navy projects, this program shows that Austal can do more than design and manufacture world-class ships. We are also taking the prime contracting role and using in-house expertise to develop and integrate sophisticated electronic systems for command, control and communication. We are also building on our existing capabilities to establish and operate a comprehensive and effective in-service support system for the fleet,” Mr Bellamy said.

“This total solution capability represents the future of our Australian business, as we continue to expand and enhance the strategic industry capability necessary to meet the current and future defence needs of Australia and other nations,” he said.

Mr Bellamy said the fact that Austal had been awarded the contract after a rigorous, open international tender process by a highly experienced and meticulous customer reflected the company’s ability to successfully compete in the global market.

“This is the Australian Government getting the best possible value regardless of supplier nationality, and that’s the basis upon which we secured this work.

“The fact that we are on track to deliver that capability, as promised, is a credit to all involved. It reflects the skills and hard work of our staff, many of whom bring invaluable experience from previous government contracts carried out both here in Australia and at our US shipyard,” he said.

Construction of the first Cape Class Patrol Boat will continue in accordance with schedule, with launch due in December this year prior to sea trials and delivery to Customs and Border Protection in March 2013. Austal’s eight year support contract for the fleet encompasses a full range of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will play a significant role in protecting Australia’s borders from multiple maritime threats, and have been designed to have greater range, endurance and flexibility, as well as enhanced capability to operate in more severe sea conditions than the current Customs and Border Protection fleet. The aluminium monohulls can operate at 25 knots and have a range in excess of 4000 nautical miles. Each can undertake simultaneous operations with two embarked 7.3 metre rigid hulled response vessels.

 The first Cape Class Patrol Boat is now in the assembly phase

Project Background

Austal was awarded the contract for the design, construction and through-life support of the Cape Class patrol boats for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in August 2011. The eight 58 metre aluminium monohulls are due to be delivered between March 2013 and August 2015.

The support contract extends for a minimum period of eight years and encompasses a full range of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities. Further options can be exercised by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for In-Service Support for the life of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Fleet.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will have greater range, endurance and flexibility in responding to maritime security threats than the current fleet.

These vessels will also have enhanced capability to operate in higher sea states and survive in more severe conditions.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will be able to:

Undertake 28 day patrols;

Sail 4,000 nautical miles before having to refuel;

Combat the full range of maritime security threats

Carry a larger crew to more effectively and safely manage boarding operations

Identify, track and intercept an extended range of threats in the maritime domain and gather intelligence and store evidence for matters that may proceed to the courts; and

Launch two Tender Response Vessels simultaneously.

Customs and Border Protection patrol boats may be deployed according to aerial surveillance, community reports and/or radar sightings.

They may be used to:

    Counter people, drug and weapons smuggling;

    Apprehend foreign fishing vessels;

    Gather information and intelligence;

    Monitor environmental pollution; and

    Assist management of offshore nature reserves and marine parks.