ASC shipyard upgraded for Future Frigate and OPV construction

Australian Submarine Corporation’s Osborne shipyard will be upgraded to better serve the needs of the Australian naval shipbuilding program, the country’s defense industry minister announced on Wednesday.

MP Christopher Pyne said the Australian department of defense and Danish Odense Maritime Technologies were working together on the infrastructure upgrades that will deliver a surface vessel shipyard that supports both the minor and major surface vessel programs now and into the future.

“Redevelopment of the Osborne shipyard and the implementation of the Offshore Patrol Vessels and Future Frigate programs will be carefully managed” Minister Pyne said.

“This will ensure that the Air Warfare Destroyer and Collins Class sustainment activities continue unimpeded.”

The $35 billion program to build nine anti-submarine warfare frigates will start construction in Adelaide in 2020. The $3 billion Offshore Patrol Vessel build program will provide work for Adelaide from 2018 to 2020 and will move to Western Australia thereafter.

Minister Pyne added that facilities and infrastructure upgrades that are to take place at the government-owned Osborne South Naval Shipyard would be substantial.