Austal Lands $867.6-Million Navy Contract

Mobile’s Austal USA recently received an $867.6-million undefinitized contract award for final design and construction of three expeditionary medical ships (EMS) from the U.S. Navy. The EMSs will be manufactured in Austal USA’s aluminum manufacturing line following completion of the last expeditionary fast transport, EPF 16. The EMS is an EPF variant medical ship optimized to provide patient holding, stabilization, evacuation and transport in support of Distributed Maritime Operations. The cost-effective EMS design features a shallow draft, which enables greater reach and allows for direct access to austere ports. The flight deck will accommodate military aircraft, including the V-22 and H-53K. Austal has delivered 13 EPFs to the Navy, is preparing to deliver the first EPF Flight II and has two more Flight II vessels under construction.