
The Navy awarded Austal USA a $128 million contract for the detail design and construction of one Auxiliary Floating Dry Dock Medium (AFDM). The company underscored this is its second steel vessel program for the Navy as it ramps up production of steel products, expanding from aluminum naval vessels. Austal has traditionally built the aluminum Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ships and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport for the Navy. The contract announcement said the contract also covers crew familiarization, packaging and delivery,…