 |
| The Hull of "LHD 01" after construction |
By NIGEL PITTAWAY
MELBOURNE, Australia — The shipbuilding industry in Australia is facing pressure from a shortage of skilled labor and a lack of continuity in naval shipbuilding projects.
The industry is grappling with the problem as Australia’s first landing helicopter dock ship (LHD) was inducted into BAE Systems’ Williams-town Dockyard here Oct. 28. The hull was constructed in Navantia’s facility in Ferrol, Spain, and brought to Australia.
 |
| Sonar Dome for AWD after construction |
BAE Systems Australia is the prime contractor for two 27,000-ton LHDs being acquired under a 2 billion to 3 billion Australian dollar ($2.06 billion to $3.12 billion) joint project. BAE is responsible for the fabrication of four sections of superstructure, including mast modules built by its yard at Henderson in Western Australia, and will complete fitting out of the entire vessels.
The Williamstown shipyard is the same facility responsible for damaging a hull module for Australia’s air warfare destroyer (AWD) program. The module had to be reworked as a result of faulty manufacturing techniques which, in part, were blamed on the loss of skilled workers following the completion of the Anzac frigate project in the last decade.
Read the full story at DefenseNews