Austal LCS and EPF Featured in a New Exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum

As a proud partner of the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM), Austal (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce the opening of the new ‘Treasures of the American Collection’ exhibition, celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the museum’s USA Gallery, featuring two scale models of Austal’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF).

With over 100 objects on display, the ‘Treasures of the American Collection’ exhibition highlights the numerous, captivating stories from the shared maritime experience of Australia and the USA over the last 200 years.

Amongst the numerous models of ships on display, Austal’s LCS and EPF tell the most recent story of a unique shipbuilding relationship between Australia and the USA.

In 1999 Austal established a new shipyard in Mobile, Alabama and initially built commercial vessels for customers in the North American market, including two ‘Hawaii Superferries’; in 2005 Austal’s unique trimaran design was selected as one variant of the new class of Littoral Combat Ship for the US Navy and construction commenced in 2006. The first Independence variant LCS was delivered to the US Navy on 14^th December 2009 and commissioned USS Independence. Since then, 3 more LCS have been delivered by Austal USA – USS Coronado, USS Jackson and USS Montgomery and the state-of-the-art shipyard continues to construct 6 LCS’ as part of a 10 ship contract worth over US$3.5billion.

Austal’s Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) program, also featured in the ‘Treasures of the American Collection’ exhibition, commenced in 2008 (then known as the Joint High Speed Vessel program). Austal USA has now delivered 7 EPF vessels, under a contract worth over US$1.6billion.

Introducing the models to His Excellency John Berry, US Ambassador to Australia, US Consul-General Hugo Llorens and ANMM Director, Kevin Sumption, Austal Marketing Manager Paul Sparke highlighted that Austal USA is now the 5^th largest shipyard in the USA, employing over 4,000 people in Mobile, Alabama.

“Austal USA is also the only non-US prime contractor constructing combatant ships for the US Navy; currently building up to 15% of the US Navy’s entire surface fleet,” Mr Sparke noted.

Including rare items such as the passport from American whaling ship Stephania signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, ‘A Journal of a Voyage around the World in His Majesty’s Ship the Endeavour’ by New York born James Mario Magra, and cameras used by Australian underwater cinematographers Ron and Valerie Taylor on the 1974 film set of ‘Jaws’, the ‘Treasures of the American Collection’ is now open at the ANMM in Darling Harbour, Sydney.

For more information please visit http://www.anmm.gov.au/usatreasures

His Excellency John Berry, US Ambassador to Australia and Austal Marketing Manager, Paul Sparke with two scale models gifted by Austal to the Australian National Maritime Museum for the new ‘Treasures of the American Collection’ exhibition - celebrating 25 years of the USA Gallery. Photo: ANMM.

-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) 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 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.