Austal Awarded Armidale Class Patrol Boat Remediation Work

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce that Austal Australia will deliver  an important mid-life remediation program to the Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) fleet.

Austal will undertake a number of hull remediation and configuration changes as well as planned and corrective maintenance work on up to seven (7) ACPB’s at the company’s Henderson, Western Australia shipyard from October 2016.

The activity, won in a domestic and international environment, will provide immediate, ongoing work for over 120 Austal employees and provides continuity of work between the completion of two Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy and a major export contract for Mols Linien, commencing April 2017.

The work on the ACPB’s adds to the company’s growing service and sustainment business. Austal is already delivering in-service support to the Australian Border Force’s fleet of eight Cape-class patrol boats (designed and constructed by Austal) and has been contracted to provide in service support for nineteen steel Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) vessels, as they enter service from late 2018.

Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton commented “As the original designer and builder of the Armidale Class, Austal is in an ideal position to deliver this important, mid-life enhancement work to a proven naval platform. Our inherent knowledge base and practical experience building and servicing the hard working Armidale fleet will ensure the vessels depart Austal in 2017 as a fully operational and effective capability.”

“This order is indeed timely for Austal and ensures that key skills in naval shipbuilding and repair are maintained in Henderson during the lead up to the placement of the Offshore Patrol Vessel contract.

“Once again, by winning this competitively bid contract, we have demonstrated that Australian shipbuilding can be internationally competitive.”

The Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) is a 56 metre all-aluminium monohull patrol boat designed and constructed by Austal for the Royal Australian Navy. Fourteen ACPB’s were delivered from 2005 to 2007 and the vessels continue to play an integral role in Australia’s naval capability in the lead up to the arrival of the new Offshore Patrol Vessel fleet from 2020.

HMAS Glenelg prior to launch from the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia 2007 (Picture: Austal)

HMAS Larrakia during sea trials off Henderson, Western Australia, 2005 (Picture: Austal)

-ENDS-

About Austal

Austal is a global defence prime contractor and a designer and manufacturer of defence and commercial ships. For more than 27 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 255 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 Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ships for the U.S. 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 Border Force. 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, and the Middle East together with partner shipyards worldwide.