The following is the text of a news release from Austal Ltd.:
(MOBILE, Ala.) (Sept. 16) — Austal Ltd. is pleased to announce it has successfully delivered joint high speed vessel 4 (JHSV 4), USNS Fall River, to the U.S. Navy.
USNS Fall River is the fourth JHSV built by Austal at its shipyard in Mobile, Ala., under a 10-ship, $1.6 billion contract.
Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said the delivery of USNS Fall River to the U.S. Navy is a strong reminder of "the significant progress that we have made through operational improvements at our U.S. shipyard."
“The delivery of the fourth JHSV is evidence of how well the program has matured,” Bellamy said. “We have received many positive reports about how the first three JHSVs have been performing in the fleet, and we are encouraged about the future of the JHSV program.”
Austal will deliver a further six joint high speed vessels from its shipyard at Mobile, Ala. Preparations are underway for the launch of Trenton (JHSV 5) later this month with construction on Brunswick (JHSV 6) progressing well. Metal cutting began for Carson City (JHSV 7) in early September.
JHSVs 1, 2, and 3 have been deployed to support U.S. defense operations in European, African, Southern and Pacific command areas of responsibility since JHSV 1 was delivered in December 2012.
Five Independence-variant littoral combat ships are also in construction at Austal’s U.S. shipyard under the company’s 10-ship, $3.5 billion contract from the U.S. Navy.
