Austal is holding information sessions in Cairns to highlight local supply opportunities relating to the Cape-class Patrol Boat and upcoming Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPBR or Sea 3036) program.
Austal head of Sustainment Robert Jackson will present an overview of Austal’s sustainment operations around Australia and more specifically, information on the company’s existing and upcoming sustainment activity in Cairns, to a large group of local businesses at a networking event hosted by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce.
Austal is on schedule to commence construction of the $305 million, 19 vessel PPB-R program in the second quarter and will deliver sustainment services from Cairns from 2018, commencing with the delivery of the first vessel in 2018.
“The PPBR contract includes the sustainment of the 19 vessels from Cairns and Austal is committed to utilising local suppliers and service providers as much as possible in the delivery of this important project, which forms part of the Commonwealth’s continuous naval shipbuilding program,” Jackson said.
“On top of our existing contract for the sustainment of the Cape-class fleet, the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement contract is an outstanding opportunity for Cairns-based businesses to help deliver world class sustainment services to as many as 12 Pacific Island nations.”
Austal sustainment and supply chain specialists will be in attendance at the forum to talk with an expected 80 Cairns businessmen and women including Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch MP, State Member for Cairns, Robert Pyne MP, Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Bob Manning and Lieutenant Commander Stephen Langridge from HMAS Cairns. The event is being proudly hosted by Cairns Chamber of Commerce President Nick Loukas.
Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne welcomed the announcement in a media release and reiterated the Government's $24 million contract to provide support services for the existing Pacific-class and new Pacific Patrol Boats for an initial seven years, with support services contracted to start early 2018.
“I congratulate Austal on its initiative to engage with the naval industry in Cairns on this important project that will employ 13 people to support vessels locally as well as in Henderson, Western Australia.”
In addition to the Pacific Patrol Boat contract, Thales Australia has been awarded the new Armidale Class Patrol Boat In Service Support contract. The contract has a potential value of more than $55 million per annum and will commence on 1 July 2017, with existing sustainment activities to be maintained.
A Thales Australia spokesman said that detailed analysis is a work in progress, and it is too soon to provide definitive details other than those outlined in the media release.
Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch welcomed the announcements, saying he anticipated substantial indirect employment would be generated through delivery of the contracts.
“It’s very exciting news that not only do we have the commitment for the long-term servicing of the Pacific Patrol Boats in Cairns but also the ongoing sustainment of the Armidales, now that the contract has been awarded to Thales Australia,” he said.
“This is a reflection of the outstanding ability and capacity of our industry and the skill-sets of our trades to be able to deliver on these contracts.
Construction of the first Pacific Patrol Boat at Austal's Henderson facility is scheduled to commence in April 2017 with delivery of the first vessel due in late 2018.