Austal finalizes buy of dry dock

MOBILE, Ala. – Austal USA has completed the purchase of waterfront land, buildings, and an existing dry dock along the Mobile River, previously owned by World Marine of Alabama, an indirect subsidiary of Modern American Recycling and Repair Services (M.A.R.R.S.) of Alabama, according to the shipbuilder. The purchase enhances Austal’s new construction and service business lines. The purchase includes the 20,000 ton ‘Pete B’ Panamax-class floating dry dock, 100,000 square feet of covered repair facilities, and 15 acres of waterfront property along the river and bay. The move puts Austal adjacent to M.A.R.R.S. and enables better collaboration on that company’s core recycling efforts. The buy increases Austal’s growing steel and aluminum business portfolio (with multiple Navy ship contracts for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), research and development on unmanned and autonomous surface vessels, and an expanding global services business in San Diego and Singapore. Austal has delivered 22 new-construction ships since 2012 (11 EPFs and 11 LCS). Details of the purchase price were not made available. (Source: Seapower 09/11/20) https://seapowermagazine.org/austal-usa-completes-purchase-of-dry-dock-in-mobile/