Vessel support is provided through service centres located in Darwin, Cairns and Henderson in Australia; San Diego, California, US; Balamban, Philippines and Muscat, Oman.

[8] As of early 2017,[update] Austal has designed and constructed over 260 vessels for numerous defence forces and commercial fleet operators.

[20] In October 2005, Austal / General Dynamics was awarded a contract to build the first unit from its design for a Littoral Combat Ship.

The keel of USS Independence was laid down on 19 January 2006 at Austal USA's Mobile, Alabama shipyard, with the naming ceremony held in October 2008.

[26] In November 2008, Austal was awarded a contract to design and build the US military's next-generation, high-speed catamaran, the Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), which was formerly called the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV).

As the prime contractor, Austal was to design and construct the first 103-metre (338 ft) EPF, with options for nine additional vessels expected to be exercised between 2009 and 2013.

The EPF can carry 635 tonnes (700 short tons), 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 km; 1,400 mi) at an average speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) and is able to unload at roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities.

[32] In August 2011, Austal was awarded the contract for the design, construction and through-life support of the Cape-class patrol boats for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

[citation needed] In December 2015, Austal entered into a shipbuilding contract with the National Australia Bank to construct two further Cape-class patrol boats.

The vessels will enhance the border protection capabilities of the country in conjunction with the existing Coast Guard fleet, and will join six Austal Fast Patrol Craft acquired in 2009.

[35][36][37][38] Between June 2005 and February 2008, Austal delivered fourteen, 56.8 m (186 ft) Armidale-class patrol boats to the Royal Australian Navy for coastal defence.

[43] In 2005, Austal delivered ten high-speed patrol boats to the Yemeni Navy, which are commercially hired out to protect private shippers.

[44][45] In early 2014, Austal announced it had been awarded a US$124.9 million contract for two High Speed Support Vessels (HSSV) for the Royal Navy of Oman.

The popularity of the new type of multi-hull design led to many shipyards worldwide changing their production to build fast aluminium catamarans.

The two companies continue to compete for orders of large multi-hull ferries of up to 11,000 gross tons with capacities of over 1,200 passengers and 400 vehicles.