Austal Details Expansion

The 15 acres recently purchased by Austal reported on in BBN last week (Austal is Expanding) have been earmarked as Austal West Campus, AL.com reports. The property on the west bank of the Mobile River is across and downstream from its established yard. “It’s just an extension of our existing operation,” President Craig Perciavalle said. A $50-million federal grant, AL.com added, will help it diversify from aluminum construction into steel as it continues to pursue U.S. Navy contracts. It will also allow the shipbuilder to launch the vessels it makes, provide more waterfront berthing for future new construction and deepwater berthing contracts, and expand its ship repair capability into other markets. Finally, unmanned ships comprise another focus for Austal. With the flexibility to build steel or aluminum, the company can better pursue contracts to build them.