Victorian companies join AustalFassmer's industry engagement forum on OPVs

More than 120 Victorian defence and manufacturing companies attended AustalFassmer’s industry engagement forum in Melbourne to learn about Austal and Fassmer’s joint venture bid for the Australian Government’s $3 billion Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) program, Austal said in a media release.

Austal’s Vice President Defence, Davyd Thomas AO CSC, along with Mr Gary Hogan, Acting Manager of the Victorian Defence Sector Development Team spoke on the opportunities for suppliers to join the project.

“AustalFassmer is the only one of three bidders 100 per cent committed to completing the detailed design work for the OPV’s in Australia,” Mr Thomas said.

“Austal is proud to be Australia’s largest defence exporter and together with Fassmer we are committed to seeing Australian industry benefit as much as possible from the OPV program,” he said.

“More than 1,000 Australian firms already make up Austal’s supply chain and they help us deliver naval vessels for the Australian Government and US Government, as well as commercial projects for operators around the world.

“It is very important for us to engage with industry to ensure companies are aware of what is happening, how they can become involved and the opportunities for the future,” Mr Thomas said

The OPV program will see 12 vessels built for the Royal Australian Navy, with the first two ships to be constructed in Adelaide, with the remaining ten in in Western Australia.

About Austal
Austal is a global defence prime contractor and a designer and manufacturer of defence and commercial ships. For more than 28 years Austal has been a leader in the design, construction and maintenance of revolutionary ships for Governments, Navies and Ferry operators around the world. More than 255 vessels have been delivered in that time.