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Statue Of Liberty Ferry News

18 Aug 2003

Austal USA Delivers Circle Line’s First High-Speed Vessel

Austal USA celebrated the delivery of its sixth vessel on August 6, 2003. This 143ft passenger catamaran left Austal’s yard in Mobile, Alabama, on her way to Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry, Inc. (Circle Line) in New York City. The New York-based company transports thousands of passengers to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island each day. “Zephyr” is Circle Line’s first aluminum high speed vessel, and the second Austal USA has delivered to the New York area in the last three months. Austal delivered the 135ft dinner cruise yacht “Cloud 9” to her owners in May.

14 Jan 2004

Feature: Passenger Vessels : What's in Store in 2004?

The passenger vessel market is a classic mature marine market. Segments of it are doing well, while other parts have literally died. For example, the overnight segment of the market saw one substantial vessel delivered in 2003 with none on the horizon for 2004. The Empress of the North, a 360-ft. sternwheeler was put into service in September working the West Coast-Alaska route. Now that ice is a problem in Alaska, the vessel is working the Columbia River system in the Northwest U.S. The vessel was the largest vessel ever built by Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland, Wash. and is owned by American West Steamboat Company, Portland, Ore. Developing overnight service is the most difficult part of the passenger vessel industry to get established.

30 Sep 2002

Austal to Build Circle Line’s First High Speed Vessel

Austal USA has signed a contract with New York operator, Circle Line-Statue of Liberty Ferry, Inc. (Circle Line) for a 143-ft. passenger catamaran which will be the first aluminium high speed vessel for this operator and the third contract Austal USA has secured for the New York area in the last 6 months. When delivered to New York in late June 2003, it will be part of an extraordinary association between New York State and the Austal Group with the 136-ft. Cloud Nine dinner cruise vessel being delivered by Austal USA in the previous month and the delivery the following month of a 280-ft. High Speed Catamaran into Rochester, NY by Austal Ships of Australia.

27 Nov 2002

Lerchbacker Leads Austal USA to the Top

When Austal Ltd. of Henderson, Western Australia, started looking last year for a CEO to lead its U.S.-based operations, the job description must have been daunting. They wanted a leader to take the helm of their newly built shipyard in Mobile, Ala., and turn it into a major contractor for both military and commercial vessels in the United States. Austal had recently entered the U.S. market for the first time, intent on competing with higher-profile rivals such as Incat/Bollinger, Derecktor Shipyards and Kvaerner. The company settled on Alan Lerchbacker, 50, an energetic former Navy Aquanaut with a business background, who took the position in February 2002. Lerchbacker had never heard of Austal until a headhunter contacted him.

19 May 2003

Austal USA Announces New CEO

Austal has appointed Greg Metcalf to the position of CEO. Prior to relocating to Mobile with his family, Metcalf worked for Austal Limited in Henderson, Western Australia for 5 years as Austal Group Financial controller and then Vice President of Business Development. Current activity at the Mobile yard includes a 143 –ft. high speed passenger catamaran being built for the Circle Line Statue of Liberty Ferry Company in New York City. Circle Line transports thousands of passengers each day to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The new catamaran is designed to meet Circle Line’s requirements for a vessel capable of fulfilling a number of different roles and will be delivered to New York in July.

01 Nov 2002

Wegener Joins Austal USA

Austal USA has introduced a new member to its sales team: Carl F. Wegener is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Wegener has over 15 years of experience in the marine industry having worked with companies such as Newport News Shipbuilding and United Shipbuilders of America. His sales experience in both international and domestic marine markets will be essential in the ongoing development by the Austal Group of their new generation of specialty cruise vessels; including dinner cruise, cruise yachts, and live-aboard dive vessels. Among other accomplishments throughout his career, Wegener worked as the Director of Business Development for Revere Supply Co.…