Post by ferryfast admin on Jul 9, 2012 9:32:36 GMT -5
Austal USA confident in the face of government cuts with completion of $200 million project (Gallery)
blog.al.com/press-register-business/2012/07/austal_usa_confident_in_the_fa.html
Published: Friday, July 06, 2012, 3:17 PM
Updated: Friday, July 06, 2012, 4:13 PM
MOBILE, Alabama -- Austal USA has completed more than half a million square feet of additional manufacturing and office space in a $200 million project at its shipyard in Mobile.
Austal officials and local and state politicians gathered Friday to dedicate the completion of phase two of Austal's Module Manufacturing Facility, a fifth assembly bay and a 108,000-square-foot contemporary office complex to hold 450 employees.
The three-story office complex, which broke ground in March 2011, is five times the size of Austal's current two-story office building and will bring the defense contractor's technical personnel under one roof.
Austal USA CFO and new Interim President Brian Leathers said he hopes Austal can grow its 3,000 person workforce in Mobile to 4,500 in the next few years.
"We're still growing; we're still hiring; but once we get there we should be able to maintain that level forever," he said.
Austal in Mobile is under contract with the Navy to build nine 103-meter Joint High Speed Vessels under a 10-ship, $1.6 billion contract and five 127-meter Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships, four of which are part of a 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract.
Leathers said Austal's construction of LCS vessels and JHSVs, as well as other opportunities, will allow the Mobile shipyard to reach 4,500 employees and maintain it for the long run, even in the face of steep defense budget cuts.
"I think we're well positioned," he said of the impending cuts. "These ships are needed for a purpose. The Joint High Speed Vessels, once they get fielded, once they're in the fleet and in use, the demand for those are going to increase. We feel very very comfortable that we have long-term contracts, long-term products to meet our needs now and for the future."
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, said the Navy has expressed that 55 of their fleet of 300 ships be LCSs, a fact that could potentially be big business for Austal.
"As we go forward we've got a lot of challenges," he said. "It's going to be a tough battle for the future and good programs like this one could be curtailed. It won't be eliminated because its a top priority of the United States Navy. We just need to make sure we don't cut this defense budget too much."
Leathers said he believes Austal has enough base under its existing government contracts to carry the company through until it reaches its goal of 4,500 employees in Mobile.
"Just like other shipyards around the nation, they grew, and they maintained, and they're still performing," he said. "We too will perform."
blog.al.com/press-register-business/2012/07/austal_usa_confident_in_the_fa.html
Published: Friday, July 06, 2012, 3:17 PM
Updated: Friday, July 06, 2012, 4:13 PM
MOBILE, Alabama -- Austal USA has completed more than half a million square feet of additional manufacturing and office space in a $200 million project at its shipyard in Mobile.
Austal officials and local and state politicians gathered Friday to dedicate the completion of phase two of Austal's Module Manufacturing Facility, a fifth assembly bay and a 108,000-square-foot contemporary office complex to hold 450 employees.
The three-story office complex, which broke ground in March 2011, is five times the size of Austal's current two-story office building and will bring the defense contractor's technical personnel under one roof.
Austal USA CFO and new Interim President Brian Leathers said he hopes Austal can grow its 3,000 person workforce in Mobile to 4,500 in the next few years.
"We're still growing; we're still hiring; but once we get there we should be able to maintain that level forever," he said.
Austal in Mobile is under contract with the Navy to build nine 103-meter Joint High Speed Vessels under a 10-ship, $1.6 billion contract and five 127-meter Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships, four of which are part of a 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract.
Leathers said Austal's construction of LCS vessels and JHSVs, as well as other opportunities, will allow the Mobile shipyard to reach 4,500 employees and maintain it for the long run, even in the face of steep defense budget cuts.
"I think we're well positioned," he said of the impending cuts. "These ships are needed for a purpose. The Joint High Speed Vessels, once they get fielded, once they're in the fleet and in use, the demand for those are going to increase. We feel very very comfortable that we have long-term contracts, long-term products to meet our needs now and for the future."
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, said the Navy has expressed that 55 of their fleet of 300 ships be LCSs, a fact that could potentially be big business for Austal.
"As we go forward we've got a lot of challenges," he said. "It's going to be a tough battle for the future and good programs like this one could be curtailed. It won't be eliminated because its a top priority of the United States Navy. We just need to make sure we don't cut this defense budget too much."
Leathers said he believes Austal has enough base under its existing government contracts to carry the company through until it reaches its goal of 4,500 employees in Mobile.
"Just like other shipyards around the nation, they grew, and they maintained, and they're still performing," he said. "We too will perform."