Austal nabs Cape-class sustainment contract

The Royal Australian Navy has awarded shipbuilder Austal a three-year contract for the sustainment of Cape-class patrol boats Cape Fourcruoy and Cape Inscription.

The contract is worth AUD18 million and will employ eight directly and 20 indirectly in local contractors and Austal’s own facilities in the Cairns area.

The sustainment work will be in addition to the work undertaken by Austal for the Australian Border Force and will utilise much of the same experience and capabilities, the company said.

“We are very pleased to have received this vote of confidence from the Royal Australian Navy. We have invested heavily in people, software tools and our facilities in Cairns, Darwin and Henderson in recent years to develop the capability to deliver this service” Austal CEO, David Singleton said.

Austal is currently partnered with Fassmer, bidding for the $3 billion Offshore Patrol Vessel project and has also signed a teaming agreement with ASC Shipbuilding to offer a local Australian shipbuilding solution for the $35 billion Future Frigate project.