Australia's Austal Ships has secured an order for three Coast Guard patrol boats from the government of Kuwait. With a combined contract value of approximately eight million dollars, the trio of 22 metre aluminium, monohulls will be built by Austal subsidiary, Image Marine and are due for delivery by early 2004.
"Securing this contract with the Kuwait Coast Guard, together with our short-listing for the Royal Australian Navy patrol boat project, shows that there is considerable potential for Austal in this market," said Austal Managing Director, Bob McKinnon.
Austal, together with its partner Defence Maritime Services, submitted its final proposal for the RAN patrol boat project in November 2002. Austal and DMS are one of three bidders remaining in the tender process, and it is expected that the contract will be awarded in mid 2003.
Austal's patrol boat experience also includes the design and construction of eight 38 meter Bay Class vessels delivered to the Australian Customs Service in 1999 under budget and ahead of schedule.
Image Marine delivered seven 16 meter and two 22 meter patrol boats to the New South Wales police in 2000, and the success of these vessels was an important part of the bid for the Kuwait contract. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
