“Navantia Australia looks forward to working with Lürssen to develop an enduring and internationally competitive Australian shipbuilding industry. Together we will identify areas of collaboration to maintain the skills required for complex shipbuilding at the Adelaide shipyard,” said Navantia Australia Managing Director Donato Martinez.
Navantia Australia is currently working as the Shipbuilding Management Services contractor within the AWD Alliance and the Platform System Designer for the Commonwealth. Since taking up this role in 2015, Navantia Australia has managed the production of the Hobart Class destroyers. All cost and schedule milestones for the program have been met or exceeded by the Alliance. The knowledge built up on the Hobart Class program provides a strong basis for naval shipbuilding in Australia, including the OPVs.
“It is critical that together we support the further development of the Australian shipbuilding enterprise,” Mr Martinez said.
“In order to establish a viable shipbuilding enterprise it is fundamental for the companies and individuals involved to all work in partnership to achieve shared objectives.”
Navantia Australia has partnered with the Australian Government and Australian industry on a number of shipbuilding programs to date, including the Canberra Class amphibious vessels and landing craft, the Hobart Class destroyers, and the replenishment vessels Supply and Stalwart. Mr Martinez says that this approach will continue into the future.
“We look forward to working with Lürssen, ASC Shipbuilding, Austal, Civmec, and other partners to ensure a smooth transition across the shipbuilding programs in Adelaide, as the workforce moves from the Hobart Class destroyers to the OPVs and Future Frigates,” Mr Martinez concluded.