The federal government has announced Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) and an AECOM and Aurecon Joint Venture as the concept design partners for South Australia’s new nuclear-powered submarine construction yard (NPSCY). KBR has extensive experience in supporting design and project management for defence infrastructure facilities and will design the area of the NPSCY that will…
By Peter Roberts Relations between workers and management at submarine builder ASC have sunk even lower with members of the trade unions on the site unanimously issuing a vote of no confidence in the CEO’s leadership. Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) SA Assistant State Secretary Stuart Gordon said around 300 members across the AMWU, AWU…
Linda Dobe appointed D-D of Queensland Manufacturing department The Queensland government has announced the appointment of three new Directors-General, each with a wealth of experience, to lead key departments. The appointments include: Linda Dobe as Director-General for the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW), Peter McKay as Director-General of the Department of Employment,…
Armour steel manufacturer Bisalloy Steel has broken into the US military shipbuilding market, snaring a purchase order for processed Australian steel from Newport News Shipbuilding. Newport News is a division of HII, the largest military shipbuilder in the US and one of two US companies that designs and builds nuclear-powered submarines. Bisalloy, which processes steel…
By Peter Roberts The decision that BAE Systems Australia and ASC Pty Ltd are to build SSN‑AUKUS submarines in Adelaide promises to return government-owned ASC closer to the role originally intended when then defence minister Kim Beazley established the ASC to build the Collins Class submarine. The company, which will now also sustain Virginia and…
Defence contractors BAE Systems and ASC have welcomed a federal government decision to name them as constructors of the SSN-AUKUS nuclear powered submarines to be constructed in Adelaide. BAE Systems global Chief Executive Charles Woodburn said the company was proud of its role in the delivery of the tri-nation programme to build next generation submarines.…
Austal receives $1.3bn order from US Navy Shipbuilder Austal‘s US arm has received a $1.28 billion ‘undefinitised’ contract award (UCA) for the final design and construction of three Expeditionary Medical Ships (EMS) from the United States Navy. The EMS is based on Austal’s proven Expeditionary Fast Transport ship (EPF) platform and will be manufactured in…
The federal government has moved to ensure Australian-made steel will be used in the construction of Australia’s conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines when they are built at Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, subject to a qualification process. The Australian Submarine Agency has entered into a contract with Australian steel manufacturer, Bisalloy Steels, for the qualification of Australian…
Republicans and Democrats have agreed to sell three Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in the early 2030s according to reports. The agreement would see the sale added to the US Congress’s National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024. Democratic congressman Joe Courtney said: “For the first time since the launch of the USS…
Eminent Australian political leader Kim Beazley has weighed in on the AUKUS submarine debate, writing that the submarines were necessitated by Australia’s strategic position in our region. Beazley, a former Governor of Western Australia, Ambassador to the United States and federal opposition leader, said Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines would be worth the wait, and the cost.…
