THERE will be continuing work opportunities for Austal Ships workers after the company was awarded the contract for two more warships for the United States Navy.
Having already delivered eight ships to the US Navy the contract is to build two additional Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships.
They will be the 16th and 17th ships built by Austal in that that class.
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READ NOWThey were designed at Austal’s Centre for Excellence in Maritime Design in Henderson, Western Australia.
Federal Defence Minister Christopher Pyne and Minister for the Defence Industry Steven Ciobo made the announcement today.
“This is an outstanding success and comes after Austal won the contract to build 21 Guardian Class Pacific Patrol Boats in WA,” he said.
“The patrol boats will be delivered to Pacific nations as part of our Pacific Maritime Security Program.”
Minister Ciobo wants to see even more Australian companies achieving export success.
“Through the Defence Export Strategy we want to become a top 10 defence exporter and I encourage other Australian companies to get in touch with the Defence Export Office to find out what support is available to them,” he said.
The contract award follows an announcement by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in July 2018 that it would purchase two Austal Cape Class Patrol Boats.
Austal has also delivered Cape Class Patrol Boats to the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.
All defence exports continue to be subject to Australia’s rigorous export control regulations.