WA and Babcock deepen maritime defence operations

The Western Australian government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Babcock Australasia to further develop its defence activities as well as workforce training and upskilling in the state.

Babcock International sustains the entire UK submarine fleet, and Perth’s HMAS Stirling on Garden Island is the base for the current Collins class fleet, as well as for Australia’s future nuclear powered submarine fleet. Other sustainment operations occur in Adelaide.

The government said that the MoU would help in creating high paying, skilled jobs for decades at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) in Henderson (pictured), as well as at HMAS Stirling.

Babcock, employs 26,000 people across the globe, with 1,700 in Australia and New Zealand, including 250 in WA.

Babcock has also recently started work as the Regional Maintenance Provider West, managing the sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy ships at Henderson with the support of 500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia said: “Babcock is a major player on the world stage when it comes to maintaining nuclear submarines.

“I am confident this MoU will help place Western Australia at the forefront of the latest developments in the maritime defence industry.”

Picture: Picture: defence.gov.au/Henderson shipyard