LR, Birdon team up on Australian Navy’s new sail training ship

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has signed a new construction agreement with Australian shipbuilder Birdon to provide classification services and statutory approval for the Royal Australian Navy’s sail training ship (STS).

The ship, designed by Dykstra and built by Birdon, will be constructed at Birdon’s Port Macquarie shipyard in New South Wales, providing significant economic benefit for the region.

As a sail training ship, the new vessel will continue to deliver youth development within the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme’s sail training program. Young Endeavour has been operating since 1988 when the vessel was gifted by the British Government to celebrate Australia’s Bicentenary.

The Young Endeavour replacement will comply with the REGLYC Part A yacht code and Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

“We are extremely excited and proud to be part of this project and very pleased to be working together with Birdon and Dykstra. The result will not only be a great square rig training ship, but a true head-turner that provides fantastic opportunities as part of the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme,” Remko Hottentot, Business Development Manager Australasia, Lloyd’s Register said.

“We are very proud to have been entrusted to lead this once in a lifetime project. It is a unique and prestigious vessel and we look forward to working with Lloyd’s Register to deliver and assure this important capability,” Joe Smith, General Manager Defence, Birdon added.

In May this year, Birdon announced that the company won a contract to build the STS. The area of responsibility will include the design, engineering, and integration of all the vessel’s systems, including mechanical, electrical, propulsion, communication & navigation systems.