Navantia and Australian Defence Materiel Organisation have signed a contract for the Risk Reduction Study Design of the Australian AOR logistics ship, called the program SEA1654.
The contract signing, held at the naval base at Garden Island, was attended by Admiral Purcell and Patrick Fitzpatrick, both from DMO, the Commercial Director of Navantia, Gonzalo Mateo-Guerrero, and the Director of Navantia Australia, Francisco Baron.
The contract, which will last for approximately 8 months, will analyze the design of the Combat Supply Ship (BAC) “Cantabria”, built by Navantia for the Spanish Navy, addressing specific Australian requirements.
With this phase of the study the process of acquisition of two logistics ships by the Australian Government starts. Navantia has been shortlisted along with another company as a potential supplier of the vessels.
After this phase, the Australian Government will begin the final phase by a request for tender for the construction of the ships.
The BAC “Cantabria”, delivered by Navantia in 2010, was deployed for several months in Australia, with a mission to integrate and operate with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Press release, Image: NAVANTIA