Austal USA to build new shipbuilding and repair facility in Mobile

US naval shipbuilder and repairer Austal USA is to invest in a multi-million USD shipyard, with a shiplift and transfer system, next door to its current facility in Mobile, Alabama. Austal’s infrastructure expansion, which will be south of its current shipyard in Mobile, will include a new assembly building, waterfront improvements and a new Pearlson-designed shiplift and transfer system. Construction work on this new facility is planned to start this summer.

Austal USA has partnered with Pearlson & Pearlson, programme manager and owners representative; Kiewit Infrastructure South Co, lead for design and construction; and Pearlson Shiplift Corp, to execute the project.

The shiplift system will feature an articulated lifting platform measuring 137.16m x 38.1m, capable of lifting and launching a vessel in excess of 18,000 long tons.

The Pearlson shiplift will be able to accommodate the US Navy’s new Constellation-class frigates, TAGOS-25 class Ocean Surveillance Ships, Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships and the USCG’s Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutters.

Meanwhile, Pearlson Shiplift Corp, based in Florida, is also currently designing and supplying the new large shiplift, transfer system and land-level repair berths to BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair yard in north Florida, which is due to be operational in 2025.

The shiplift for this yard will measure 150m x 33.5m and will be capable of lifting the US Navy’s Flight III guided missile destroyers, and commercial vessels displacing about 25,000 tons.

This new repair facility in Jacksonville, which will increase BAE Systems’ drydocking capacity by 300%, will be used for the repair and maintenance of US Navy surface vessels homeported at Mayport Naval Base and commercial vessels calling at Jacksonville Port. The new facility is also the largest shiplift, transfer system and land-level repair yard in North and South America.