Serco and Civmec to bid for amphibious capability

Engineering firm Civmec and services firm Serco have joined together to bid to build the defence force’s next generation amphibious vessel.

The companies over the past year have been optimising the design for their Oboe Manoeuvre Vessel Medium (LMV-M) in pursuit of the LAND 8710 1A programme.

Should the be successful they plan to form the Australian Maritime Alliance to deliver the vessels.

Civmec has already invested heavily to build Australlia’s new offshore patrol vessels, including a massive modular shipbuilding hall at Henderson, south of Perth (pictured).

The hall stangs 70 metres high and contains 20 overhead travelling cranes with a 400t lift capacity.

Civmec CEO Pat Tallon said the company operated Australia’s largest fabrication workshops.

Tallon said: : “I am proud that Civmec is evolving to be a solid option for the Commonwealth as it seeks to expand sovereign shipbuilding and sustainment capability.

“We are committed to the charge and look forward to forging strong relationships with Serco and others that are integral to meeting the demands of the ADF.”

The two companies said the Oboe would rely upon and maximise the use of Australian industry.

Picture: Civmec/Henderson, WA

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