MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA welcomed Admiral Steven Poulin, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, to the company’s Mobile, Ala. shipyard earlier this week. Admiral Poulin was joined by U.S. Representative Daniel Webster of Florida.  While onsite, Admiral Poulin and Congressman Webster toured the shipyard’s manufacturing facilities and discussed the company’s progress on the Coast Guard’s Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC).

Austal USA leadership provided an update to Admiral Poulin and Congressman Webster on the company’s highly automated steel shipbuilding production line and plans for a new 192,000 square foot final assembly building complete with a shiplift capable of launching and recovering the OPC.  These infrastructure improvements in Austal USA’s Mobile facility have enabled the company to manufacture increasingly complex ships and components. The 117,000 square foot steel panel line, where OPC construction will begin in mid-2024, houses the latest state-of-the-art computerized and robotic steel processing equipment to handle the current and future demands of the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy.

“We are proud of our state-of-the-art manufacturing operation and even prouder of our highly talented workforce,” stated Austal USA Acting President Michelle Kruger. “We value our growing partnership with the Coast Guard as we move into production of the OPC and were excited to share our vision of the future success the OPC program faces with Admiral Poulin and Congressman Webster.”

Austal USA has delivered 32 ships to the Navy since 2009 and has seven ships from five different programs currently under construction. In addition to the expansion of infrastructure to manufacture surface ships like the OPC, the company is also investing in a dedicated submarine module production facility in Mobile and has established ship service facilities in Mobile, Ala., San Diego, Calif., and Singapore.