AUSTAL WELCOMES NAMING OF THE FIFTEENTH INDEPENDENCE CLASS LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP AS THE USS CANBERRA (LCS30)

MEDIA RELEASE

2 MARCH 2018

AUSTAL (ASX:ASB) has welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that the fifteenth Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) to be designed and built by Austal USA will be christened the USS Canberra.

In a joint press conference the two leaders celebrated the announcement as an example of the closeness of the American-Australian alliance, with President Trump stating “there is no closer friendship”.

“Austal’s Littoral Combat Ship is Australia’s biggest ever defence export and this announcement is a real honour for us, to have this vessel recognised as a symbol of the US-Australia alliance” Austal CEO, David Singleton said.

“I would like to congratulate the team at Austal USA, who are responsible for building and delivering this vessel,” Mr Singleton said.

“Austal USA has cemented the company’s reputation in the United States for production efficiency and world leading technology in naval shipbuilding,” he said.

“The US Navy’s ambitious fleet expansion plans, which call for 355 vessels, will require the expertise of companies like Austal to realise.

“Austal USA has the capacity and the know how to assist the US Navy with their expansion plans using our proven low cost, versatile and technologically advanced platforms,” Mr Singleton said.

Prime Minister Turnbull recognized the importance of Austal USA to the US-Australia alliance saying, “The ship (USS Canberra), will be built by Austal in Mobile, Alabama so you will have an Australian company with American workers, working and operating in the United States building ships for the US Navy.”

Richard Spencer, Secretary of the US Navy announced the ships sponsor for the future USS Canberra as Australia’s Minister for Defence, Marise Payne. Ships sponsors play a unique role for the US Navy, becoming part of the ships history, as an honorary permanent member of the crew and advocate. The sponsor typically attends all milestone events of the ships, most notably the christening of the vessel where it receives its official name to enter service.

In addition to being the Prime contractor for the Independence-class LCS Program, Austal USA also designs and builds Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF) vessels for the US Navy.

Austal Media Contact:

Contact: Gemma Whiting - Government Relations Manager

Mobile: +61 (0)408 982 727

Email: gemma.whiting@austal.com

Website: www.austal.com

About Austal

Austal is an Australian shipbuilder and global defence prime contractor which designs, constructs and sustains some of the world’s most advanced commercial and defence vessels.

Austal successfully balances commercial and defence projects and celebrates 30 years of success in 2018.  Austal has designed, constructed and delivered more than 300 commercial and defence vessels for more than 100 operators in 54 countries worldwide.

Austal is Australia’s largest defence exporter and the only ASX-listed shipbuilder. Austal has industry leading shipyards in Australia, the United States of America and Philippines and service centres worldwide.

Austal delivers iconic monohull, catamaran and trimaran commercial vessel platforms – including the world’s largest trimaran ferry and multiple defence programs such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) for the United States Navy. Austal has grown to become the world’s largest aluminium shipbuilder.