Written by
Nick Blenkey
Shipyard enlargement will embody a Pearlson-designed shiplift system able to lifting and launching vessels in extra of 18,000 lengthy tons. [Image: Austal USA]
Austal USA is planning a significant enlargement of its Cell, Ala., shipyard functionality. The infrastructure enlargement, which will probably be to the south of Austal USA’s present waterfront facility, will embody a brand new meeting constructing, waterfront enhancements, and a brand new shiplift system. Begin of development on the shipyard enlargement mission is deliberate for summer season 2024.
The development of this new constructing and waterfront help space, which features a Pearlson-designed shiplift, continues the enlargement that Austal USA started in March 2021 with the groundbreaking of the metal panel line. Along with the manufacturing capability of the brand new constructing, the shiplift will present a protected and dependable system to launch ships as they’re accomplished. The system may even allow the retrieval of ships and bringing them again to the land-side facility.
“With the metal panel line in full manufacturing our enlargement focus has shifted to the erection and launch services required to help our rising backlog,” mentioned Austal USA performing president Michelle Kruger. “This new facility is continuous proof of the shut relationship we have now with our area people together with our group leaders; native, state and federal political leaders; and, regional organizations such because the Cell Space Chamber of Commerce.”
To execute the mission, Austal USA has partnered with Pearlson & Pearlson Inc, as program supervisor and proprietor’s consultant; Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., as lead for design and development; and Pearlson Shiplift Company, as designer and builder of the shiplift system.
The brand new meeting constructing will encompass three bays and can allow the erection of lately awarded metal ship contracts whereas offering the pliability to fabricate modules for submarine and different floor ship applications. The constructing will probably be roughly 400 toes lengthy by 480 toes huge offering over 192,000 sq. toes of lined manufacturing house and occupying 4 and a half acres.
The Pearlson-designed shiplift system will characteristic an articulated lifting platform roughly 450 toes lengthy by 125 toes huge, able to lifting and launching vessels in extra of 18,000 lengthy tons. This capability will facilitate the launch and docking of the U.S. Navy Constellation-class frigates, TAGOS-25 class Ocean Surveillance Ships, Independence-variant Littoral Fight Ships, and the U.S. Coast Guard Heritage-class Offshore Patrol Cutters.
When the shipyard enlargement is accomplished, Austal USA’ s Cell, Ala. facility will embody a 117,000 sq. foot metal panel line, two module manufacturing services totaling over a million sq. toes of lined manufacturing house optimized for serial manufacturing, and 7 meeting bays offering over 400,000 sq. toes of indoor erection house. In all, the Cell facility covers 180 acres and, when this mission is full, could have over 1.5 million sq. toes of indoor manufacturing house.
