Austal engages Cairns businesses to highlight vessel sustainment opportunities

As part of the company’s ongoing engagement of Australian suppliers in the delivery of vessel sustainment services around Australia, Australia’s defence shipbuilder Austal (ASX:ASB) is holding information sessions in Cairns, Queensland, to highlight local supply opportunities relating to the Cape-class Patrol Boat and upcoming Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement programs, the shipbuilding company said in a media release.

Head of Sustainment, Mr Robert Jackson will present an overview of Austal’s sustainment operations around Australia and more specifically, information on the company’s existing and upcoming sustainment activity in Cairns, to a large group of local businesses at a networking event hosted by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce.

Austal is the Australian shipbuilder and defence prime contractor that designed, constructed and is now delivering sustainment services for the eight vessel, Cape-class Patrol Boat fleet, operated by the Australian Border Force. An additional two Cape-class Patrol Boats are currently under construction at Austal’s Henderson, Western Australia, shipyard and are on schedule for delivery to the Royal Australian Navy in the second quarter of 2017.

In addition to the Cape-class Patrol Boats, Austal is on schedule to commence construction of the A$305million, 19 vessel Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement program in the 2nd quarter of 2017 and will deliver sustainment services from Cairns from 2018, commencing with the delivery of the first vessel in 2018.

“The (PPBR) contract includes the sustainment of the 19 vessels from Cairns and Austal is committed to utilising local suppliers and service providers as much as possible in the delivery of this important project, which forms part of the Commonwealth’s continuous naval shipbuilding program,” Mr Jackson said.

“On top of our existing contract for the sustainment of the Cape-class fleet, the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement contract is an outstanding opportunity for Cairns-based businesses to help deliver world class sustainment services to as many as 12 Pacific Island nations.”

Austal sustainment and supply chain specialists will be in attendance at the forum to talk with an expected 80 Cairns businessmen and women including Federal Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch MP, State Member for Cairns, Robert Pyne MP, Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Mr Bob Manning and Lieutenant Commander Stephen Langridge from HMAS Cairns. The event is being proudly hosted by Cairns Chamber of Commerce President Nick Loukas.