Austal shipbuilding company has been awarded preferred tenderer status by the Australian Government for the Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement (PPBR) Project. The programme involves the construction of up to 21 steel-hulled patrol vessels.
The total cost of the project is $900 million and includes a budget of $500 million for the construction of up to 21 vessels and a second budget of $400 million for the support and maintenance of the vessels for over 30 years of their operational life. The vessels will be built at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, West Australia.
The second procurement programme of the Royal Australian Navy, includes the construction of nine new frigates. According to the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull three European shipbuilders were shortlisted to provide designs for the “Australian Future Frigate” programme.
The three companies are British BAE Systems with its Type 26 frigate design, Italian Fincantieri with its FREMM design and the Spanish Navantia which participates with is upgraded F100 frigate design.
The second evaluation process will be completed in 2018 and the construction of the first new frigate will start in 2020
The third procurement programme of the Royal Australian Navy involves the construction of twelve new offshore patrol vessels.
Three European shipbuilders have been shortlisted for this programme, the Netherlands-based and the German shipyards, Fassmer and Lurssen. The cost of the programme is estimated to reach $3 billion.
The construction of the first offshore patrol vessel will start in 2018.
Image Sourced : Royal Navy