US green lights Austal for ABR work

HENDERSON, Western Australia - Austal Limited’s shipyards and service centers in Australia have been given a green light to bid for and provide support services, including ship repairs, maintenance and sustainment activity, for U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command ships, according to Austal. With the Agreement of Boat Repair (ABR) in place, Austal’s Australian operations may bid on emergent repair services to deployed U.S. ships, including the Austal-USA's Independence-class Littoral Combat Ships. The ABR also allows Austal to bid for maintenance and repair of MSC ships deployed in the region, including expeditionary fast transport (EPF) ships built at Austal-USA in Mobile, Ala. The ABR allows Austal to bid for work on U.S. naval vessels that may visit Australia, including Cairns in Queensland, Darwin in the Northern Territory or Fremantle (Henderson) in western Australia. Austal-USA has delivered 10 LCS to the Navy since 2010 and continues to construct six more. Nineteen Independence-class LCS have been contracted, along with 14 Spearhead-class EPF’s, 11 of which have been delivered to the Navy. (Source: Seapower Magazine 02/04/20)