GOOD FIT.(Brief Article)

Marine Log, February, 2000

Austal, Bender shipyard start-up could prove formidable... and profitable

Based on the recent struggles of shipyard start-ups in the U.S., you might have to question Austal Ships' decision to open up shop in Alabama. Of the three most recent start-ups, one has closed (Pequot River Shipworks), one has apparently stalled (Massachusetts Heavy Industries), and one has been hampered by its parent's decision to quit shipbuilding altogether (Kvaerner Philadelphia).

So why does Austal Ships' partnering with Bender Shipbuilding & Repair Co., Inc., still feel like a winning combination? In three words: manufacturing, market, and money.

A WHOLE NEW WAY OF MANUFACTURING

You can teach an old dog new tricks. Established some 81 years ago, Bender...