Department Of Labor Standards Of Apprenticeship News

Austal’s U.S. operation consists of more than 4,000 employees supporting the design, construction and sustainment of two U.S. Navy programs, the 127-meter, trimaran Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and the 103-meter, catamaran high-speed troop and equipment transport known as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). Austal has block-buy contracts in place for both programs totaling over $5 billion. In the past year, it has  delivered the Jackson (LCS 6), USNS Fall River (JHSV 4) and USNS Trenton (JHSV 5).

Austal USA combined two classes to graduate a total of 48 members of Austal’s cutting-edge four-year apprenticeship program yesterday at a formal ceremony held at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. The graduates received their certificates of completion and designation as Department of Labor Class A Journeymen. The graduates consisted of 22 electrical journeymen, 9 pipe fitting journeymen, 4 fitout journeymen, and 13 fabrication journeymen. Of the 48 graduating apprentices, 18 have already been promoted to leadership positions. Austal is proud to say that the retention numbers for these apprenticeship classes were above regional averages for other apprenticeship programs in our area.

Mobile, Ala.-based builder continues building next generation of U.S. •    Received Award for Excellence in Safety for 3rd year in a row from the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) for commitment to improving safety and health in the workplace. The industry average Total Recordable Incidence Rate in 2011 was 9.2, four times higher than Austal USA’s rate of 2.3. •    Received Navy construction contracts for 4 Joint High Speed Vessels (worth $634.7 million) and 4 Littoral Combat Ships (worth $x billion).

Part of Austal’s growing talent pool – 3,000 and counting. Austal USA honored 15 graduates of Austal’s cutting-edge four-year apprenticeship program yesterday at a ceremony held in the new Office Complex Multi-Use Room. This was recently the same backdrop for a ribbon-cutting ceremony which celebrated the official opening of three new buildings at Austal’s state-of-the-art shipbuilding operation in Mobile, Ala. The graduates received their certificates of completion and designation as Department of Labor Class A Journeymen.

Austal USA honored graduates of Austal’s cutting-edge four-year apprenticeship program with a banquet at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center in Mobile, Alabama. The 38 graduates received their certificates of completion and designation as Department of Labor Class A Journeymen. They were joined by their supervisors, instructors and many of Austal USA’s executive and human resources staff in celebrating this momentous occasion. The graduating class consisted of 8 electrical journeymen, 6 fitout journeymen, 10 pipe fitting journeymen, and 13 fabrication journeymen.

Austal USA honored the second set of graduates of our four-year apprenticeship program with a banquet in Mobile, Ala. The 21 graduates honored at this banquet received their certificates of completion and designation as Department of Labor Class A Journeymen. President and Chief Operating Officer, Joseph J. Rella, was the key speaker at the celebration. Rella stated, “The apprentice training program at Austal challenges the students both academically and practically. The program develops skilled craftsmen and women well prepared to build the innovative ships here at Austal.

On the evening of September 2, 2009, Austal’s US operation in Mobile, Ala., honored the first graduates of its four-year apprenticeship program. The graduates honored at this banquet received their certificates of completion and designation as Department of Labor Class A Journeymen. Austal USA’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Joseph J. Rella, was the key speaker at the celebration. Rella stated, “the apprentice training does more than ensure skill sets that far exceed industry standards, the program cultivates our future leaders in the organization. It is essential for a shipyard to continually develop its new entrants into the workforce. The program is certified by the US Department of Labor, Ala.