Page 44 - Australian Defence Magazine October 2019

PACIFIC
SHIP ZERO
The Australian Government’s decision to build the Hunter Class Frigate, the Attack Class Submarine and the first two Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) at the Osborne Naval Shipyard has delivered a massive shot in the arm to the Australian economy. Australia’s involvement in these multi-billion-dollar projects will bolster local industry, create thousands of new jobs, and transfer world-class technology, knowledge and expertise to Australian industry.
To support the Commonwealth’s continuous shipbuilding program, the Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) has been restructured to provide more flexible program man- agement. ASC Pty Ltd performs full-cycle docking and main- tenance of the Collins Class submarine at Osborne North. ASC Shipbuilding has been established as a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia for the duration of the contract to complete the Hunter program. ASC Engineering Pty Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary, has managed the infrastructure at the Osborne Naval Shipyards.
Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) Pty Ltd has been estab- lished as an entirely separate company in the form of a Govern- ment Business Enterprise to develop new shipbuilding facilities and to manage the Osborne precinct. It has acquired the assets of ASC Engineering’s shipbuilding and sustainment infrastruc- ture at Osborne, as well as minor assets in support of the Col- lins Class Submarines at Henderson Shipyard, WA.
ANI’s six-member Board, chaired by Lucio Di Bartolomeo, reports to both the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Defence, who act as Shareholder Ministers.
David Knox has been appointed Managing Director and CEO of ANI. With more than 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, Knox brings significant skills and experi- ence to ANI. He is the former Managing Director and CEO of Santos and holds other senior executive positions including Director of the CSIRO. Knox is enthusiastic about the facili- ties being developed at Osborne.
“It is rare to have a greenfield site to build facilities like these,” he said to ADM. “Access to land adjacent to the exist- ing shipyard and a commitment from the Commonwealth to fund a world class military shipyard with advanced fabrica- tion techniques, robotics, and the best available equipment means we will be able to deliver state-of-the-art naval ves- sels from safer and more efficient production facilities.”
ANI’s primary function is to support the Commonwealth’s
LEFT: The Osborne South Development Project (OSDP) as of July 2019; there is more to come in this picture as the facilities for the Hunter build take place on this part of the site.
continuous shipbuilding program as owner and developer of infrastructure and related facilities. ANI will manage the Osborne Na- val Shipyards to ensure an integrated and co-ordinated approach to shipbuilding.
“ANI is adopting the role of ‘silent land- lord’. Our responsibility is to manage devel- opment of two new shipyards, upgrade exist- ing facilities, complete negotiations for their leasing arrangements with prime contractors, provide shared services, and ensure safe on- going operation of all facilities,” Knox said.
The AWD Alliance (made up of ASC, Raytheon Australia and the Commonwealth) is due to complete the final DDG (NUSHIP Sydney) at the existing Osborne South facilities by early 2020. Two Arafura Class OPVs will also be constructed in this facil- ity by Australian Maritime Shipbuilding & Export Group (a joint venture between Luerssen Australia and Civmec) and ASC Pty Ltd (as a subcontractor to Luerssen). The remaining vessels in the OPV program will be constructed at Austal’s Henderson Shipyard. The first in class is already well underway.
Osborne history
ANI acquired vacant land and the existing Maritime Skills Centre and Common Use Infrastructure including wharf, dry berth, transfer system and ship lift from the South Australian Government in 2017 at a cost of $230 million.
A new Submarine Construction Yard will be developed to enable Naval Group Australia to build the new Attack Class Submarines. Planning, design and construction of the Os- borne North Development Project (ONDP) are ongoing, with Naval Group developing the functional design requirements for this yard. Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction Pty Ltd is managing the design and construction of the ONDP facilities.
Construction of 65 per cent of the new Osborne South Devel- opment Project (OSDP) has been completed. This facility will be home to ASC Shipbuilding Pty Ltd, which is building nine Hunt- er Class Frigates, a variant of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship
Drone photo of the Osborne South Development Project showing from right to left:
• Building 20 – Steel Fabrication and Unit Assembly Hall • Building 21 – Block Assembly Hall
• Building 22 – Block Outfitting and Ship Erection Hall (50m at it’s peak, designed to accommodate two vessels side-by-side up to Destroyer size minus the masts.)
ROB NAPIER | MELBOURNE
44 | October 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
INTRODUCING AUSTRALIAN NAVAL INFRASTRUCTURE (ANI)