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Workboat Annual bid. "We feel that with the price (Derecktor) gave, they're going to have a hard time meeting that price and deliver- ing the speed they said they would deliver," he said. Despite the loss, Lerchbacker said Austal is intent on winning contracts for larger ships. A major expansion at its Mobile shipyard will quadruple its cur- rent covered workspace by May 2003, he said. The expansion will also allow the company to fulfill any military con- tracts, which Austal USA is aggressive- ly pursuing, Lerchbacker said. Earlier this year, the parent company Austal Ltd. leased a 331-ft. (101-m) catamaran, the WestPac Express, to the Navy's Military Sealift Command for use by the U.S. Marine Corps' Third Marine Expeditionary Force in the Pacific region in and around Japan. The ship, capable of carrying 970 passengers and 32,000 sq. ft. of cargo, needs only a We Offer Marine HVAC Solutions Based On 40 Years Of Engineering Excellence. www.natoi com / cuslomer.service@natoil.com NATIONAL OILWELL One Company. . .Unlimited Solutions Circle 305 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com 42 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News 14-ft. (4.2-m) draft. One of Austal's primary competitors for military work is the Australian ship- yard INCAT, based in Tasmania, which has allied itself with Bollinger Ship- yards in Louisiana to fight for military contracts. While INCAT/Bollinger is considered a formidable team, INCAT has suffered financial problems with its Australia operations and has been recently held in receivership. The company is expected to recover, but some analysts believe the receivership has hurt INCAT's reputa- tion. "INCAT will probably survive if it can sell just one vessel, but it has lost indus- try credibility," said Peter Strachan, an Australia-based analyst with the stock- broker D.J. Carmichael & Co. Strachan follows the parent company Austal Ltd., which is a publicly traded company on the Australian Stock Exchange under the symbol ASB. Last year, Austal Ltd. had revenues of $194 million and employed 1,700 workers. Strachan said he expects Austal to continue to do well both internationally and in the U.S. Austal USA, meanwhile, continues to raise its profile in its new market. Ler- chbacker, for instance, is scheduled to appear at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans in December, where he will share the stage with rival Donald "Boysie" Bollinger of Bollinger Shipyards. The two men are billed to discuss partnerships between U.S. and international companies. The energetic Lerchbacker said he's eager to take the stage with Bollinger. "I'm going to love it," he said, adding that some of his old Navy buddies have promised to show up for the event. Lerchbacker said he expects Austal /MARINE/IIR SYSTEMS® JTaylor Made ENVIRONMENTAL- a-0151. a-0152. a-0153 hvac@tmenviro-va.com • www.tmenviro.com • Tel: +1-804-746-1313 (US) •+44(0)870 3306101 (UK) ^SMiS? Circle 323 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com AC Generators & Motors / 50-12.500 kW VFD & SCR Propulsion Drive Systems / 501-3100 HP Eng/Gen Control & Distribution Switchboards/Uracil 15kV High Pressure Slurry Pumping Systems Cranes & Controls Vessel Management & Automation Control Project Engineering & System Integration National Oilwell manufactures and services a wide range of products tor marine applications. We can engineer and manufacture a complete turnkey power system that is designed to deliver the maximum in efficiency and safety or furnish a single drive or pump for your application. In addition, National Oilwell maintains a woddwide network of service and supply centers to guarantee complete support of your project. Contact your National Oilwell representative for Individual solutions that meet your specific operating requirements. Fo r nearly half a century, Cruisair and « • . - u Marine Air Systems have been the fore- * » most names in marine HVAC technology. In 1999, we brought these two well- respected brands together with the formation of Taylor Made Environmental. Today you can look to us for a complete range of turnkey air conditioning and heating solutions, for circulated-water, seawater-cooled and air-cooled applications. Cruisair and Marine Air Systems products are designed by professional engineers who understand the unique requirements of the marine environment. They're built at state-of-the-art plants by skilled craftsmen who take pride in their work. They're backed by our extensive applications engineering group, and sustained by our worldwide network of factory-trained service dealers. So give us a call or send us your specs, and let us show you how we can solve your next marine HVAC job. COME VISIT US AT Booth #1829
