Mobile ship makes movie debut

The Austal USA-built USS Independence is one of the characters in the movie “Cars 2.” Officials from Austal and the Navy, which owns the Independence, said they didn't approach Pixar or Disney about using the ship, "but to have one of the most creative movie studios in Hollywood feature a Mobile-built product confirms what we locals have known for years, our ship is awesome," said Joe Rella, president of Austal USA. In the movie, the unnamed ship character is seen guarding the villain's offshore oil platform lair and then chasing after one of the movie's heroes, spy car Finn McMissile. The ship pops up again at the end of the movie. Austal is building its second littoral combat ship as a subcontractor for General Dynamics, then will be the prime contractor for 10 more. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 07/05/11)