In a statement to employees, BAE Systems has welcomed a one year, $12 million contract extension that will see the company support the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN's) Hydrographic fleet until 2020.
Around 60 people based in Cairns are directly involved with the In Service Support Contract, valued at $436 million.
Over the past two years the team has increased significantly to provide improved sustainment to the Hydrographic platforms.
Cairns ISS program manager Phil Jakes said the team has worked very hard over the last 12 months to improve performance and exceed customer expectations.
“We have established a capability to improve engineering within the project,” Jakes said. “Importantly, we have also improved and maintained a commendable safety record.”
Under the contract, BAE Systems supports the RAN's two Hydrographic Ships (HMA Ships Leeuwin and Melville), four Survey Motor Launches (HMA SMLs Paluma, Mermaid, Benalla, and Shepparton) and six Survey Motor Boats (SMBs), as well as two SMBs in the Hydrographic school and one SMB that supports surveys in the Antarctic.
More than 30 local companies are directly involved with BAE Systems work supporting the Hydrographic fleet. As managing contractor the company is designing and implementing the transition model and subsequent ISS contractual framework on behalf of the CASG and Royal Australian Navy.