Australian shipbuilder ASC signed a collaboration agreement with international engineering consultancy BMT to meet increasing demand for ASC’s submarine platform expertise and experience.
The 12-month collaboration agreement, signed at ASC’s submarine headquarters at Osborne, South Australia, will strengthen ASC’s roles as builder and sustainer of Australia’s Collins-class submarine fleet.
“Under this agreement, ASC will be better able to meet increasing demands for our work on the Collins-class fleet, as well as our growing role in the Future Submarine space,” said ASC’s chief executive Stuart Whiley.
ASC last year secured a further five-year performance period for the sustainment contract for the Collins-class submarines. ASC has a submarine workforce of approximately 1,200 and is the Collins Class Design Authority, conducting submarine sustainment, enhancements and upgrades at its sites in South Australia and Henderson, Western Australia. ASC is also part of the Future Submarine project office, currently providing approximately 28 seconded staff.
“BMT has a long-standing pedigree in global submarine design and support and we are excited by the potential for this agreement to provide real opportunities in Australia’s growing submarine platform sector, especially in supporting the Collins Class fleet, which will remain in service well into the 2030s,” BMT business development director Rob Steel said.
The collaboration agreement was signed on Wednesday, 24 January, and runs for 12 months.