Engineering firm Civmec and shipbuilder Austal have executed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a Joint Venture (JV) to submit a proposal to the government to support the project LAND8710 Phase 2, Landing Craft Heavy (LC-H) project.
LAND8710 Phase 2 (LC-H) will deliver enhanced transport and littoral manoeuvre capability to the Australian Army.
Earlier this week the government accelerated the build by Austal of 18 medium landing craft for the Army’s new littoral fleet at its Henderson shipyard in Perth.
Under the MOU, Civmec and Austal will develop the structure, delivery process and detailed scope of the JV in preparation to submit tenders to the Commonwealth for the project.
Civmec’s Executive Chairman Jim Fitzgerald said: “The proposed Joint Venture between Austal and Civmec will be an important step to ensure the continuation of naval shipbuilding at Henderson, with tenders, detailed scopes and commercial arrangement now able to be finalised at pace.
“By combining Civmec’s Henderson shipbuilding facilities, which include the largest heavy engineering facility of its kind in Australia, our systems, steel manufacturing expertise and 4,000 strong labour force, together with Austal’s naval shipbuilding experience and long track record of delivery, the JV would be very well placed to deliver efficient Continuous Naval Shipbuilding in Western Australia to Defence.”
It is intended for the JV to contract directly to the Commonwealth to undertake shipbuilding tasks for the LC-H project within the assembly hall at Civmec’s Henderson facility (pictured).
Fitzgerald said: “There are many details to work through, including expansion of Civmec’s footprint in Henderson to ensure there is no impact to Civmec’s ongoing work for the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors.”
Civmec has been building offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the navy at Henderson, while Austal builds patrol boats as well as multi-hulled aluminium ferries.
Further reading:
Canberra accelerates build of landing ships in Perth
Picture: Civmec/Henderson shipyard