Victorian-based Advanced Magnetic Ranges Australia (AMRA), a joint venture between AMOG and French naval technology specialist ECA Group, have submitted their bid for the RAN’s Magnetic Treatment Facility under Sea 1350 Phase 2.
Sea 1350 Phase 2 is set to replace an existing deperming facility at Fleet Base West and is seeking an innovative ‘over-run’ solution that will deliver both time and cost savings to the Commonwealth. It replaces the traditional deperming process of wrapping the entire body of a ship or submarine in a massive wire coil and passing electricity through the coil to reduce the magnetic ‘signature’ of the vessel.
AMOG CEO Ben Clark has confirmed that AMRA’s submission ‘includes an impressive list of Australian subcontractors and SMEs who will ensure that Australian industry content is maximised, whilst delivering the best global technology from ECA Group.’
“Safety at sea is a continuous challenge since it is a hostile environment,” Philippe Novelli, Chief Commercial Officer of the Robotics Division at ECA Group, said. “Beyond the fact that AMRA’s solution is based on a tried, tested and approved method of ship protection through magnetic risk management such as deperming of submarines, our solution is a real technological breakthrough as it simplifies the process and reduces the time required.”
The AMRA approach uses wire coils laid down on the seabed, supported by a custom-designed subsea structure, through which a specific current form is passed as the vessel moves over the coils. This single day ‘over-run’ process provides a significant operational advantage when compared to the traditional wrapping, which can take up to 10 days.
AMRA is working with Total AMS, THYCON, DM Civil, Logistic Engineering Services, Matrix, FRP Engineering, Solutions from Silicon, and the Australian arm of Boskalis.
The company says it will support the transfer of knowledge from ECA in France, bring UK-based ARC Marine’s reef technology to Cockburn Sound working with Polevine (Permacast), and help create a new cable manufacturing capability transferred from Italy to Prysmian Australia.