Austal's Expeditionary Fast Transport 8 (EPF 8) Completes Acceptance Trials
Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce that Expeditionary Fast Transport 8 (EPF 8), USNS Yuma has successfully completed U.S. Navy acceptance trials.
The acceptance trials, conducted by the US Navy in the Gulf of Mexico, are the last significant milestone before delivery and involve comprehensive testing of the vessel’s major systems and equipment.
Following confirmation of Yuma’s successful acceptance trials, Austal CEO David Singleton highlighted the significant contribution the versatile EPF platform is making to US Navy operations.
“Just this week, EPF 1 (USNS Spearhead) was deployed as the lead platform for the four month civil-military operation ‘Continuing Promise 2017’, to Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia.
“Conducted by the US Naval Forces Southern Command and US 4th Fleet, the operation includes humanitarian aid and medical missions that will see an estimated 15,000 people treated from January to April 2017, utilising on board and mobile facilities transported by Spearhead.
“The EPF is the ideal platform to deliver critical aid and services to people in remote locations, quickly, professionally and efficiently.” Singleton added.
Following delivery of EPF 8 later this year, Austal USA has a further four expeditionary fast transport vessels on schedule for delivery from its shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, under a 12- ship contract with the U.S. Navy worth over US$1.9 billion.
Final assembly is well underway on City of Bismarck (EPF 9) and modules for Burlington (EPF 10) are under construction in Austal’s module manufacturing facility. The first aluminium for Puerto Rico (EPF 12) was cut on 18th January 2017.
Austal’s eighth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel for the US Navy, USNS Yuma, has successfully completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico (Photo: Austal)
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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.
Further Information
| Contact: | Austal |
|---|---|
| Phone: | 61 8 9410 1111 |
| Fax: | 61 8 9410 2564 |
| Email: | media@austal.com |
