33-638: The Worldchampion Jet (former Villum Clausen ) is a fast passenger ferry built in 2000 by Austal , Perth , Australia . Until 31 August 2018, it was in active service between Rønne ( Bornholm in Denmark ) and Ystad in Sweden . On 19 December 2017, HSC Villum Clausen was sold to the Greek based Ferry Company Seajets . Starting from the summer of 2019, it was renamed WorldChampion Jet and started sailing between Piraeus and Cyclades . HSC Villum Clausen
66-685: A United States Navy contract to build ten Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ships. The design, with a catamaran seaframe, was drawn from the Austal-built MV Westpac Express . Unlike the Littoral Combat Ship, the Joint High Speed Vessel is for transport, not combat. In July 2010, Austal USA hosted a keel-laying ceremony at its shipyard to signify the erection of the first modules on USAV Spearhead (JHSV 1) , lead ship in
99-455: A 28.5 m (94 ft) beam with a crew of 22 to 40. The first four vessels were named USNS Spearhead , USNS Choctaw County , USNS Millinocket and USNS Fall River . While the EPF can carry 300 Marines and their gear for up to four days, it is not expected to be survivable against enemy attack. In 2011, US Navy planners envisioned building up to two dozen of
132-516: A new complaint with the labor board after the result. In March 2008, the company was sued by 22 employees for alleged racial discrimination and a hostile work environment . The company was found not guilty in separate discrimination trials that culminated in October 2011 and January 2012. A request for a new discrimination trial was rejected in March 2012 by a federal court. After appeals, seven of
165-541: A total of ten. The EPF is similar to the Austal-built MV ; Westpac Express , which the US Marines had used since 2002. The EPF can carry 635 tonnes (700 short tons ), 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 km; 1,400 mi) at an average speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) and is able to unload at roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities. The vessels are 103 m (338 ft) long, have
198-609: Is currently constructing the Independence class of littoral combat ships for the United States Navy , based on a 127 m (417 ft) advanced trimaran seaframe. In March 2015, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus testified before Congress that the Navy intends to purchase 52 of the vessels. The final 20 will be upgraded with new capabilities. The cost of each ship is about $ 350 million. In November 2008, Austal USA won
231-611: Is now operating with the fleet at its current location in Norfolk, Virginia. LCS-2 was the first ship built by Austal USA for the US Navy and the Navy's first trimaran Littoral Combat Ship. It is the first naval warship constructed in Mobile, Alabama since World War II . The basis of Austal's seaframe design was the 127-metre (417 ft) trimaran hull HSC Benchijigua Express . The second Austal/General Dynamics ship, LCS-4,
264-586: Is provided through service centres located in Darwin , Cairns and Henderson in Australia; San Diego, California , US; Balamban, Philippines and Muscat, Oman . Corporate headquarters are co-located at Austal's Australian ship building facility in Henderson. As of early 2017, Austal has designed and constructed over 260 vessels for numerous defence forces and commercial fleet operators. Customers include
297-850: The Australian Border Force , Condor Ferries , Mols Linien of Denmark , Royal Australian Navy , Royal Navy of Oman and United States Navy . Austal was founded in 1988 by John Rothwell. In December 1998 it was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange . In May 1999 Oceanfast was purchased. In December 1999 Austal USA was formed in a joint venture with Bender Shipbuilding & Repair of Mobile, Alabama . In September 2006, it purchased Bender's shareholding in Austal USA. In February 2007, North West Bay Shipping shipyard in Margate, Tasmania
330-687: The National Australia Bank to construct two further Cape-class patrol boats. The contract value is A$ 63 million. The two vessels will be delivered to the National Australia Bank in mid-2017 and chartered to the Australian Government for a minimum term of three years. Austal did a similar off-balance-sheet charter with Westpac Express, which was chartered to the US Navy for 13 years. In July 2018,
363-693: The Sheet Metal Workers' International Association (SMWIA), Austal USA has twice been found to have engaged in unfair labor practices with respect to the organizing effort of unions by the National Labor Relations Board . Unionization had been rejected by employees in elections held in May 2002 and April 2008. A third attempt in August 2011 was again rejected with a vote of 613 against unionization to 367 for it. The SMWIA filed
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#1732765066574396-644: The Swift -class patrol boats P23 and P24 which had been in commission since 1971 and the Bremse -class patrol boat P32 which had been in commission since 1992. The new vessels were built to Maltese specifications and were partly financed by the European Union . The first two vessels were launched in October 2009. All four vessels were delivered to Malta in late 2009, and commissioned in March 2010. In 2005, Austal delivered ten high-speed patrol boats to
429-692: The Yemeni Navy , which are commercially hired out to protect private shippers. In early 2014, Austal announced it had been awarded a US$ 124.9 million contract for two High Speed Support Vessels (HSSV) for the Royal Navy of Oman . Both were delivered to the Omani Navy by late 2016. The HSSV has a catamaran hull design similar to the US Navy's Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF). Austal is one of only two companies building fast multi-hull ferries between 60 and 120 m (200 and 390 ft) long. In
462-522: The 10-ship Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) program, The JHSV program has a potential worth of over $ 1.6 billion for the company. In December 2012, the navy awarded its final option under its current contract, and ordered JHSV-10. Austal USA signed a contract for 10 Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSVs). One of them, the Trenton (JHSV 5) completed acceptance trials in March 2015 and was delivered in April 2015 to
495-528: The EPF ships into the 2020s. In August 2011, Austal was awarded the contract for the design, construction and through-life support of the Cape-class patrol boats for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service . The eight, 58-metre (190 ft) aluminium monohulls were delivered between March 2013 and August 2015. In December 2015, Austal entered into a shipbuilding contract with
528-636: The Henderson Shipyard in WA. Austal USA Austal USA is an American shipbuilder based on Blakeley Island in Mobile, Alabama . It is a subsidiary of the Australian shipbuilder Austal , operating under a Special Security Arrangement which allows it to work independently and separately on some of the most sensitive United States defense programs despite its foreign ownership. Austal USA
561-517: The Navy's Military Sealift Command. In May 2016, Austal USA was awarded a $ 18.5 million contract from the Navy for the 12th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel. On June 30, 2022, the United States Coast Guard awarded Austal USA a contract to build up to 11 Offshore Patrol Cutters under Phase 2 of the program, with a potential total combined price of $ 3.3 billion if all 11 ships are ordered. Following complaints from
594-576: The design, construction and support of defence and commercial vessels. Austal's product range includes naval vessels, high-speed ferries , and supply or crew transfer vessels for offshore windfarms and oil and gas platforms. Austal has three major ship building facilities. Defence vessels are designed and constructed in Henderson , Western Australia and Mobile, Alabama , US. Commercial vessels are constructed in Balamban, Philippines . Vessel support
627-417: The early 1990s, the ferry industry was transformed with the introduction of large, high-speed catamarans with decks for vehicles. They quickly replaced most hydrofoil and hovercraft services as well as many monohull ferries. The popularity of the new type of multi-hull design led to many shipyards worldwide changing their production to build fast aluminium catamarans. Eventually capacity exceeded demand and by
660-401: The end of the 20th century most builders of large fast cats had ceased production. Austal and its only competitor in this category, Hobart -based Incat survived the late 1990s industry collapse. The two companies continue to compete for orders of large multi-hull ferries of up to 11,000 gross tons with capacities of over 1,200 passengers and 400 vehicles. On 20 August 2014, Austal announced
693-508: The government of Trinidad and Tobago announced the acquisition of two Cape-class patrol boats. The vessels will enhance the border protection capabilities of the country in conjunction with the existing Coast Guard fleet, and will join six Austal Fast Patrol Craft acquired in 2009. In May 2020, six Evolved Cape-class patrol boats were ordered for the Royal Australian Navy. In 2022, a second order for an additional two vessels
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#1732765066574726-551: The new vessel is 6 meters (20 feet) longer than the Alakai , thanks to a bi-fold ramp, added by Austal to its stern, for use in austere ports without shore-side loading facilities, making it suitable for military use. The National Geographic Channel series MegaStructures featured an episode in September 2007 that detailed the construction, launch, and sea trials of the Alakai , the first catamaran Hawaii Superferry. Austal USA
759-650: The sale of Austal Hull 270, the company's 102-metre (335 ft) trimaran stock vessel, to the UK Channel Islands ' ferry operator, Condor Ferries , for A$ 61.5 million. It was renamed HSC Condor Liberation . Modifications to the stock vessel were valued at approximately A$ 6 million, and was scheduled to enter service in Spring 2015. On 28 March 2015, the ship struck the quayside while attempting to dock in Guernsey on its second day in service. The damage
792-550: The world record which was then recorded in the Guinness World Records . The record lasted for 13 years until Austal's arch rival Incat , the only other shipbuilder producing large fast catamarans, built HSC Francisco in 2013, a 99 metre ferry with a top speed of 58 knots. It operates on the route between Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Austal Austal Limited is an Australian-based global ship building company and defence prime contractor that specialises in
825-681: Was cancelled in November 2007. In May 2009, the US Navy renewed the contract with Austal/General Dynamics to build the second LCS, USS Coronado , with delivery scheduled for May 2012. In December 2010 the US Navy announced a new contract with Austal USA after Austal severed ties with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works . New contracts for Littoral Combat Ships were awarded to both Austal USA and Lockheed Martin . The contract called for one ship to be built beginning in 2010 ( USS Jackson ), one to be built in 2011 ( USS Montgomery ), and two per year from 2012 to 2015. The LCS-6 contract
858-539: Was for US$ 432 million, with a goal of having the average ship cost US$ 352 million each. Another US$ 20 million was figured in for change orders, and a management reserve. In November 2008, Austal was awarded a contract to design and build the US military's next-generation, high-speed catamaran , the Spearhead -class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) , which was formerly called the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV). The contract
891-569: Was for two crew supply vessels for service in the Gulf of Mexico . These were followed by a ferry for Lighthouse Fast Ferry of New York . Austal USA built the Lake Express for service across Lake Michigan , and the Alakai for Hawaii Superferry . Huakai , the second high-speed vehicle-passenger catamaran for Hawaii Superferry was launched at Austal USA. At 113 meters (371 feet) long,
924-507: Was formed in 1999 when Austal formed a 70:30 joint venture with Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co to build ferries. Austal bought out its partner in September 2006. Notable projects for the shipbuilder include the United States Navy 's Independence class littoral combat ship (first launched in 2008) Spearhead class expeditionary fast transport (first launched in 2010), and United States Coast Guard 's Heritage -class cutter (contract awarded in 2022). Austal USA's first contract
957-673: Was made, and in 2023 a third order for a further two boats. Between June 2005 and February 2008, Austal delivered fourteen, 56.8 m (186 ft) Armidale -class patrol boats to the Royal Australian Navy for coastal defence. The boats were featured on the TV series Sea Patrol . In 2009, the Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta ordered four patrol boats from Austal. They were due to replace
990-624: Was named after the 17th century Danish freedom fighter Villum Clausen ( da ). In 2000, it broke the world record for the longest distance travelled by a commercial passenger vessel in 24 hours. Worldchampion Jet operates daily from Piraeus to Cyclades: On the way from the shipyard of Austal in Australia to Rønne in Denmark the ferry had a top speed of 47.7 knots (88.3 km/h; 54.9 mph) and an average of 43.4 knots (80.4 km/h; 49.9 mph), and on February 16 and 17, 2000 it had reached 1063 sea miles within 24 hours, thereby setting
1023-468: Was only minor and above the waterline. Since then, Condor Liberation has had a difficult period of operation with Condor Ferries, encountering numerous technical problems, weather cancellations and sustaining further damage to its hull whilst docked in Poole on 30 December 2015. In November 2023, defence companies Austal and Birdon announced that they would be building landing craft. They would be built at
HSC WorldChampion Jet - Misplaced Pages Continue
1056-459: Was part of a larger programme potentially worth over US$ 1.6 billion. As the prime contractor, Austal was to design and construct the first 103-metre (338 ft) EPF, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between 2009 and 2013. Construction on the second ship started in September 2010. By the end of 2010, Austal had contracts for three ships, long-lead material contracts for two ships and options for five further ships, for
1089-427: Was purchased. It was closed in August 2010. In November 2011, a shipyard in Balamban , Philippines was purchased. In October 2005, Austal / General Dynamics was awarded a contract to build the first unit from its design for a Littoral Combat Ship . The keel of USS Independence was laid down on 19 January 2006 at Austal USA 's Mobile, Alabama shipyard, with the naming ceremony held in October 2008. It
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