The Westpac Express News

Seaward Services, an HMS Global Maritime company, recently marked the end of a 15-year working relationship with Austal on the Westpac Express project. Seaward Services was awarded a contract in 2001 to provide operations, maintenance and technical management. Effective June 1, 2016, while another company has taken over the charter of the vessel, Seaward Services will continue its operations, maintenance and technical management of the Westpac Express. The High-Speed Vessel (HSV) Westpac Express transports military personnel and equipment over a 1,200 mile range in Asia for the Marine Corps Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and Military Sealift Command. The 101-meter vessel, home ported in Okinawa, Japan, can carry 970 troops and 236 vehicles, and travel at speeds of 35 knots.

The charter of the Austal high speed vessel 'WestPac Express' has been extended for a further six months by the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command. The modification to the charter will see the ship continue to support the operations of the United States Marine Corps’ Third Marine Expeditionary Force through to February 2014. The contract extension comes almost exactly 12 years after Austal announced it had signed a world first contract to charter the 101 metre high speed catamaran to the US military for the rapid deployment of Marines and their equipment in the Western Pacific.

Seaward Services provides bridge officers, including the master and chief engineer, for Builder and Acceptance Trials of the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). USNS Choctaw County, the Navy's second Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV 2), satisfactorily completed Acceptance Trials, May 3 in Mobile, Ala. under the command of Seaward Services’ master, supported by the company’s chief engineer and other deck and engine officers. During Acceptance Trials the ship's major systems and equipment were tested and evaluated, including a full power run and demonstrations of main propulsion engineering and ship control systems, anchoring, emergency and crew support systems. The ship reached speeds of over 40 knots during at-sea trials.

United States Military Sealift Command (MSC) exercise first of its three, six months options, for the ongoing charter of “WestPac Express”. The option forms part of a 24 month contract that Austal was awarded in December 2011. A 101 metre aluminium catamaran, “WestPac Express” has now been supporting the US Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan since July 2001 and has achieved virtually 100 per cent availability over that time. The Austal-managed charter operation includes in-service support, ship management services and integrated logistics support.

HMS Global Maritime (HMSGM) announce the extension of the HSV WestPac Express’ charter with the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) and the Third Marine Expeditionary Force, beginning in February 2012. The contract can last up to an additional two years. The HSV WestPac Express has been operated by HMSGM for the past nine years as a high-speed transport vessel for military personnel and equipment over a 1,200 mile range in Asia. The 101-meter vessel, home ported in Okinawa, Japan, can carry 970 troops and 236 vehicles at speeds of 35 knots. Over the past nine years, the HSV WestPac Express has experienced many achievements. One of those achievements came in March…

Naval Architects and marine engineers from around the world gathered in Honolulu in September for the 11th International Conference on Fast Sea Transportation (FAST 2011). The four-day biannual symposium promoted world-wide cooperation among scientists and engineers involved with all aspects of the high-speed maritime industry. FAST 2011 was the Fast Foundation’s 20th anniversary. Kjell Holden of the Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology and FAST International Standing Committee…

U.S. Navy Christens New Military Vessel in Mobile, Alabama at Austal USA. The Navy will christen the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) Spearhead Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony in Mobile, Ala. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kenneth Wahlman, U.S. Army (Ret.) will serve as ship’s sponsor. His daughter Catherine, a Staff Sgt. in the Army ROTC attending Virginia Tech University, will assist her father in the christening, Mr. Wahlman’s wife, Chief Warrant Officer Five…

Austal USA and their U.S. Navy partners have worked closely to achieve a comprehensive corrosion management solution for the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class. Impressed current cathodic protection systems, already in place on the Westpac Express, an Austal-built civilian vessel that has served the U.S. Marine Corps for the past decade, are set to be tested over the coming months on the Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships and ultimately, put into place on the Jackson (LCS 6). Passive measures are important as well, and the Coronado (LCS 4) will get new anti-corrosion surface treatments to better protect the water jet tunnels and associated structure from galvanic corrosion.

Military Sealift Command-chartered cargo ship MV Combi Dock III departed Subic Bay, Philippines, Oct. 30, carrying 460 pieces of U.S. Marine Corps equipment including Humvees, trucks, ambulances, firefighting vehicles, helicopters and supplies that were used during the recent amphibious landing exercise, or PHIBLEX, held in the Philippines Oct. 14-18. The equipment is being returned to Marine Corps bases on Okinawa, Japan. MSC-chartered high-speed vessel HSV Westpac Express also participated in the exercise by transporting Marines and their equipment between Okinawa and the Philippines.

Austal received word to move forward with the construction contract for the fourth and fifth vessels of the U.S. Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a program potentially worth over $1.6b. Austal received funding previously from the Navy, valued at $99,557,548, to acquire long lead-time material, to include diesel engines, water jets and reduction gears, for these two vessels in June 2010. The additional work is valued at approximately $204.6m. As Prime contractor, Austal was awarded the construction contract for the first 103-meter JHSV in November 2008, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13.

Please provide a brief professional history of yourself? I have more than 20 years of experience in all aspects of the planning and production of a wide variety of aluminum high speed vessels ranging in length from 26m to 107m. I have been employed by Austal since age 16 and completed a four year apprenticeship as a Shipwright before progressing into supervision and management of production staff and then program management. Along with experience with 30-60m passenger catamarans…

The U.S. Navy has exercised contract options funding Austal’s acquisition of long lead-time equipment associated with the construction of two additional 338 ft Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV). As the prime contractor, Austal currently has contracts to build the first three JHSVs as part of a 10-vessel program valued at up to $1.6b. The most recent award funds the acquisition of long lead time material for JHSV 4 and 5. Austal was awarded the initial contract to design and build the first 338 ft JHSV in November 2008, with contracts for an additional two vessels awarded in January this year.

The U.S. Navy has exercised contract options funding the construction of two additional Austal Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) – as part of an existing 10-vessel, $1.6b program. Austal previously received US Navy funding for long lead-time material, including diesel engines, water jets and reduction gears, for these two vessels in June 2009. The additional work is valued at approximately $208m. Intended as the U.S. Department of Defense’s next-generation multi-use platform, the two 338 ft high speed vessels will be constructed at Austal’s US facility, located in Mobile, Ala.

The U.S. Navy has exercised contract options funding Austal’s acquisition of long lead-time material associated with the construction of two additional 338 ft Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV). The award is valued at $99.5m. Austal was awarded the initial contract to design and build the first 338 ft JHSV in November 2008. The contract included options for a further nine additional vessels to be awarded between FY09 and FY13 for a total value of up to $1.6b. Long lead-time material for the additional vessels will include diesel engines, water jets and reduction gears. Similar to the Austal-built WestPac Express operated by the U.S. Marines for the past seven years…

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Austal has won the contract to design and build the US Department of Defense’s next generation multi-use platform, the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion. As Prime contractor, Austal will design and construct the first 103-metre JHSV, with options for 9 additional vessels expected to be exercised between FY09 and FY13. Similar to the Austal-built “WestPac Express” operated by the US Marines for the past seven years, the JHSV will be capable of transporting troops and their equipment…

Austal’s operation located in , celebrated the start of work on its Modular Manufacturing Facility (MMF) with a groundbreaking ceremony on July 31, 2008. Located on , just south of , the MMF project when complete will include 700,000 sq. ft. of manufacturing space, 80,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, and 60,000 sq. ft. of office space. The MMF expansion will be constructed in two phases and will ultimately accommodate a total workforce of up to 1,200 personnel in the new buildings.

The launch of (LCS 2) closely follows the recent delivery of the first Hawaii Superferry vessel. A 107 metre vehicle and passenger carrying aluminum catamaran, Superferry is Austal ’s largest construction project to date and is the largest high speed aluminum catamaran built in the . A second identical ferry is currently under construction and is scheduled for launch in September 2008. The recent purchase of an adjacent 100 acres of land and the award of $33.7m in funding from…

Although it has diversified into other vessel types in recent years, Western Australian based shipbuilding group Austal still counts fast ferries as a core market. The last year has been no exception, with the biggest news being the June announcement of an order for what will be the world's largest high-speed multihull vessel. Even more significant than the vessel's 126.7 m length overall is the fact that the cargo-vehicle-passenger ferry will be based on slender stabilized monohull hullform (more commonly referred to as a trimaran). While the experienced high-speed builder from down under touts the commercial value of the project, ramifications for its military aspirations, particularly with the U.S. armed forces, are clear.

Low intensity conflict, littoral warfare, special forces that can be whisked ashore at a moment's notice-all familiar terms to describe just how the military must transform to fight the ongoing global war on terrorism, and the battles of the 21st century. For this very reason, the Navy's Military Sealift Command, or MSC, chartered two high-speed vessels-HSV Swift and HSV Westpac Express-sleek, stealthy, high-speed catamarans with a multitude of mission capabilities to meet today's security challenges, including: mine warfare, maritime interdiction, littoral warfare, humanitarian assistance, as well as the ability to quickly deploy troops to a combat zone.

Having already completed two years of service supporting the operations of the U.S. Marine Corps' Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) in the Western Pacific theatre, the 101-m Austal catamaran "WestPac Express" has now achieved another distinction: it is the first large high speed vessel to be registered and flagged as a commercial ship in the U.S. After a competitive bid process, the HSV was first chartered in July 2001 for a "proof of concept" period. This was so successful that the Military Sealift Command signed a three year charter in January 2002, again after receiving several competing offers. The III MEF charter was the first time the US military had contracted a commercial vessel of this type for military support.

Having already completed two years of service supporting the operations of the US Marine Corps’ Third Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) in the Western Pacific theatre, the Austal catamaran “WestPac Express” has become the first large high speed vessel (HSV) to be registered and flagged as a commercial ship in the United States. After a competitive bid process, the HSV was first chartered in July 2001 for a “proof of concept” period. This was so successful that the Military Sealift Command signed a three year charter in January 2002, again after receiving several competing offers. The III MEF charter was the first time the US military had contracted a commercial vessel of this type for military support.

The JHSV requirements and concept of operations are similar to those of the Austal built WestPac ExpressAustal announced the award of a $3m Preliminary Design Contract for the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program for the US Navy and Army. The JHSV requirements and concept of operations are similar to those of the Austal built “WestPac Express”, which has been successfully serving the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan for more than six years. At the conclusion of the six-month JHSV Preliminary Design Contract…