Navantia Australia has formally opened its Naval Design and Engineering Centre in Melbourne’s Docklands precinct.
Victorian Defence Industry Advocate Greg Combet opened the facility, together with Navantia’s global chairman Esteban Vilasanchez and Navantia Australia chairman Warren King. The facility will complement Navantia Australia’s Adelaide Operations and Design Centre.
“The continuous naval shipbuilding program is a national endeavour,” Mr King said. “Navantia Australia is continuing to grow and develop our sovereign capability, which means drawing on the best engineers and naval architects around the country."
"The Melbourne Naval Design and Engineering Centre will work in partnership with our Operations and Design Centre in Adelaide to ensure the success of Australia’s sovereign naval shipbuilding capability and our development into a nation with a competitive export capability.”
The Design and Engineering Centre, led by operations manager Jamie Gibbs, is focused on developing Australia’s future frigate capability (Navantia is proposing the F-5000) and supporting the Hobart Class destroyers. Navantia Australia is now responsible for maintenance of the design configuration of the three Hobart destroyers following its designation as class manager in February 2018.
“The local capability which Navantia Australia has developed is significant,” Mr Vilasanchez said. “Navantia is immensely proud of the capability we are delivering to the Royal Australian Navy in the Hobart Class."
"With the formal transfer of the Hobart Class design authority, Navantia Australia is in an excellent position to lead the development of a sovereign naval capability. This new office will be instrumental in delivering top class design and engineering services for Australia.”
Navantia Australia has facilities in Adelaide, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and will open a West Australian facility later this year.