Austal Awarded Pacific Patrol Boat Contract
Austal Limited has announced it has been awarded a $305 million contract for the Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement (PPBR) Project by the Commonwealth of Australia, underpinning a move into the construction of steel patrol vessels.
The Company signed the contract with the Commonwealth after being selected as the preferred tenderer on 18 April 2016. Under the contract, Austal’s share of the Project is for the construction of 19 steel-hulled patrol boats, including an option for two additional vessels, valued at $280 million along with sustainment support for an initial seven year period valued at approximately $24 million.
Austal intends to bid for further sustainment support work over the service life of the class – estimated at 30 years – which will be awarded both during and beyond the initial seven year period.
The vessels will be constructed at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, WA, securing approximately 120 direct jobs plus many more in local and Australian subcontractors who have worked with Austal extensively over many years. In addition support work will be performed at Austal’s existing contracted facility in Cairns, Queensland, which will engage local subcontractors in the region to deliver support services.
Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the contract added to Austal’s long history in designing, constructing, and sustaining patrol boats for domestic and export customers.
“Austal has consistently proven its credentials as an efficient prime contractor and shipbuilder of quality aluminium vessels and we look forward to translating that expertise into the design and construction of steel-hulled vessels,” Mr Singleton said.
The all new Pacific Patrol Boat is based on Austal’s proven patrol boat design platform and is 39.5 metres long with a beam of 8 metres and a loaded draft of 2.5 metres. It is capable of traveling at 20 knots and at 12 knots possesses a 3,000 nautical mile range. Each vessel can accommodate 23 people.
Austal will commence design work immediately with construction expected to begin in 2017. First delivery is planned for 2018 and work is expected to run through to 2023.