Austal wins JHSV contract

Austal USA has won a contract to design and build the US Department of Defence’s next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a programme potentially worth over $1.6 billion.

As the project’s prime contractor, Austal will design and construct the first 103-metre JHSV, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between 2009 and 2013. Similar to the Austal-built ‘WestPac Express’ operated by the US Marines for the past seven years, the JHSV will be capable of transporting troops and their equipment, supporting humanitarian relief efforts.

A draught of 3.8 m will allow the vessel to operate in shallow waters and, with a payload of 635 tonnes, its range at 35 knots will be 1,200 nautical miles. Accommodation includes berthing for 150 troops and airline style seating for 312 troops. The JHSV flight deck will be capable of handling the CH-53E, the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military, and will have a loading ramp arrangement capable of supporting M1A2 Abrams tanks. The vessels will be a joint-use platform operated by both the United States Army and Navy.

“Austal is very proud to have been selected to build an important part of the US Navy’s fleet,” said Austal Managing Director Bob Browning. The vessels will be built at Austal’s US shipyard located in Mobile, Alabama, where work is continuing on the first phase of a new state-of-the-art Modular Manufacturing Facility (MMF). Upon completion in mid-2009, the first half of the 70,000 square metre MMF will be available for the fabrication of all JHSV modules.

Austal USA’s 1,000-strong workforce, which is currently completing the US Navy’s 127-metre Littoral Combat Ship ‘Independence’ (LCS 2), as well as a 113-metre high speed catamaran for Hawaii Superferry, will grow to more than 1,500 as a result of the JHSV programme.