Navy Orders Two More Ships From Austal

MOBILE, Ala. — Austal USA recently received a $156-million contract option to build two more Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ships for the U.S. Navy, AL.com reported. Austal already had two of the Navajo-class ships under contract and recently began work on the first (BBN #102). Designated “T-ATS” by the Navy, the Navajo class represents Austal’s first steel shipbuilding operation. “Having years’ worth of work on order for its new steel production line is important for Austal, which faced dwindling prospects as an all-aluminum shipbuilder. The end is in sight for its work on Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships, and no comparable large aluminum ship program has emerged to follow,” AL.com added.