Bob Riley News

Governor Bob Riley has approved the application submitted by TORP Technology to operate a liquefied natural gas terminal 63 miles off the Alabama coast after the company agreed to use an environmentally-friendly method to reheat the gas. The company had originally proposed using an open-loop system that would have used seawater from the Gulf to warm up the imported LNG. Governor Riley has consistently opposed applications by companies that planned to use the open-loop system because of the negative impact on Alabama’s marine resources. In 2006, Governor Riley opposed a plan by ConocoPhillips to build an LNG facility using the open-loop system 13 miles south of Dauphin Island.

Austal has officially opened its new Modular Manufacturing Facility (MMF), equipping its U.S. shipyard with the ability to build up to three 328-ft-plus vessels each year. Phase One of the new $88m facility boasts 35,000m2 of manufacturing space under one roof, including a 7900m2 warehouse, as well as paved parking for more than 2000 vehicles. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of Phase One was held at Austal’s Mobile, Ala. shipyard. The event was attended by more than 300 dignitaries, including Alabama Governor Bob Riley, U.S.

An official visit by the Governor of Alabama to Austal’s Western Australian shipyard has underlined the mutually-beneficial relationship that exists between the two parties. The visit by Governor Bob Riley allowed Austal to recognise the State of Alabama’s support during the establishment of its US shipyard, which over the past 10 years has grown to become the largest aluminium shipyard in the world. The facility, located in Mobile, Alabama, currently employs almost 1,000 workers and is responsible for building the largest-ever aluminium ferry in the US.