Austal Awarded Pacific Patrol Boat Contract by the Commonwealth of Australia

: Posted On Thursday, 05 May 2016 08:15

Naval Industry News - Australia

Austal Awarded Pacific Patrol Boat Contract by the Commonwealth of Australia

Austal Limited (Austal) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $305 million contract for the Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement (PPBR) Project by the Commonwealth of Australia, underpinning a move into the construction of steel patrol vessels.

Austal Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Design

The Company signed the contract with the Commonwealth today, after being selected as preferred tenderer on 18 April 2016. Under the contract, Austal’s share of the Project is for the construction of 19 steel-hulled patrol boats, including an option for two additional vessels, valued at $280 million along with sustainment support for an initial seven year period valued at approximately $24 million.

Austal intends to bid for further sustainment support work over the service life of the class – estimated at 30 years – which will be awarded both during and beyond the initial seven year period.

Austal Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Design

Austal will commence design work immediately. Construction is expected to begin in H2 CY2017, first delivery in Q4 CY2018 and work running through to CY2023.

The vessels will be constructed at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, WA, securing approximately 120 direct jobs plus many more in local and Australian subcontractors who have worked with Austal extensively over many years. In addition support work will be performed at Austal’s existing contracted facility in Cairns, Queensland, which will engage local subcontractors in the region to deliver support services.

Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the contract added to Austal’s long history in designing, constructing, and sustaining patrol boats for domestic and export customers.

“Austal has consistently proven its credentials as an efficient prime contractor and shipbuilder of quality aluminium vessels and we look forward to translating that expertise into the design and construction of steel-hulled vessels,” Mr Singleton said.

“Given our extensive facilities at Henderson we will need to make only minor investments in training and equipment to support construction of steel vessels of this size.

“Importantly, by expanding into steel we will further enhance the shipyard as we position Austal to bid and win additional domestic defence shipbuilding contracts. The contract also opens up new opportunities to further develop our successful export programs, which have accounted for up to 80 per cent of our production in the past, making Austal Australia's most successful shipbuilder.

“The continuous build program adopted by the Australian Government for the PPBR and planned for other programs delivers the Government and taxpayers a more cost efficient vessel construction process as well as sustainable and continuous employment in Henderson which creates the bedrock for further growth. We have won this program against significant international competition which demonstrates the competitiveness of our Australian design and shipbuilding industry,” Mr Singleton said.

The all new Pacific Patrol Boat is based on Austal’s proven patrol boat design platform and is 39.5 metres long with a beam of 8 metres and a loaded draft of 2.5 metres. It is capable of traveling at 20 knots and at 12 knots possesses a 3,000 nautical mile range. Each vessel can accommodate 23 people.