Military Sealift Command Extends Charter for Austal Catamaran

101-meter catamaran will continue to support the operations of the United States Marine Corps’ Third Marine Expeditionary Force

The United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command (MSC) has extended the charter of the Austal high speed vessel WestPac Express for six months with the award of a US$7.0 million modification to the contract announced in December 2011. This modification exercises the second of three six-month charter options in the contract. The first was exercised in August 2012.

As a result, the 101-meter catamaran will continue to support the operations of the United States Marine Corps’ Third Marine Expeditionary Force from its base in Okinawa, Japan until at least August 2013.  WestPac Express has been performing this role since July 2001 and has achieved in excess of 99% technical availability during that period.

The Austal-managed charter operation includes in-service support, ship management services and integrated logistics support.

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