Boat maker and maintenance provider Austal’s US arm is to add up to 1,000 new full-time jobs in Mobile, Alabama over the next five years.

The project will see Austal’s headcount at Mobile reach around 4,600.

This is according to the office of state governor Robert Bentley, which notes in a statement that the state’s Alabama Industrial Development Training programme will provide training to employees.

The state and Austal have been working together since the latter first established a base in Mobile in 1999.

Alabama secretary of commerce Greg Canfield says: “We appreciate the fact that Austal has been a good corporate citizen to both Alabama and Mobile, and look forward to working with it on many more expansions in the future.”

Jobs will be advertised on Austal’s careers website.