The Australia-based global shipbuilder Austal has acquired land in Mobile, Alabama to extend its naval shipyard capacity and capabilities.
Austal has bought 15 acres of waterside facilities including a dry dock and deep water berthing capabilities on the Mobile River from Modern American recycling and Repair Services.
The acquisition will succour a US$100 million investment by the company, supported by the US government. This will augment its current aluminium warship construction capabilities to include larger, steel-hulled ships.
Austal is Australia’s largest defence exporter and the world’s biggest aluminium shipbuilder
The shipbuilding firm paid less than US$10 million for the site, which is across the river from Austal’s existing 164-acre facility.
The company has secured contracts from the US Navy to build two classes of aluminium multi-hulled vessels.
It has built more than 300 large ships at Henderson in Western Australia, US, Philippines and Vietnam.
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