Austal, Sembawang Shipyard Enter Strategic Partnership

Leading defence prime contractor Austal, and leading repair, conversion and maintenance shipyard Sembawang Shipyard Pte. Ltd. (a subsidiary of Sembcorp Marine, Singapore), have entered into a strategic partnership to provide market-leading sustainment capability to the US Navy.

Austal and Sembawang Shipyard believe the partnership provides an important resource to the US Navy and other defence forces operating in Asia-Pacific. Austal and Sembawang Shipyard will together provide rapid, high quality support specifically tailored to the US Navy’s fleet of Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV), both of which are expected to operate in the region. The first LCS is expected to deploy to Singapore in early 2013.

Austal is currently contracted to build ten 103-metre JHSVs under a US$1.6 billion contract and six 127-metre LCSs, four of which are a part of a 10-ship, US$3.5 billion contract. Austal has already delivered one LCS and one JHSV.

Austal Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, remarked: “Sembawang Shipyard is a world-class shipyard that shares Austal’s commitment to providing high quality, superior service and innovative solutions to key customers, especially the US Navy. Sembawang Shipyard’ s strong track record and experience in servicing the United States Navy and Military Sealift Command vessels over the past four decades makes this an ideal partnership for Austal, especially as the LCS and JHSV fleet enter the region.”

Austal Chief Operating Officer – Service and Systems, Charles McGill, commented: “Our strategic partnership with Sembawang Shipyard is the cornerstone of Austal’s Asia-Pacific support offering and reinforces Austal’s commitment to the region and to the US Navy. Together with our facilities in the Philippines, Darwin and Perth, Austal is now positioned to provide critical sustainment in an increasingly important part of the world.”

Ms. Lee-Lin Wong, Executive Director of Sembawang Shipyard said: “Austal is a world leader in high speed vessel construction and support, and this newly forged partnership will reinforce our Shipyard’s capability in providing high quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) service to local and visiting high speed vessels through the combination of Austal’s expertise and our Shipyard’s specialised capabilities and facilities for US Navy work.”

Austal enters into this partnership following the October 2012 acquisition of Darwin-based HKME, and the appointment of Mr. Michael Little as Regional Service Manager – Asia, both of which have enhanced Austal’s Asia-Pacific support offering for the US Navy and other defence forces.