Industry: Austal Cuts Steel On First Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement & Australia's Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Program

Austal (ASX:ASB) today welcomed the Minister for Defence Industries, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, to cut the first steel plate for the first of nineteen Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) vessels for the Commonwealth of Australia.

Austal CEO Mr David Singleton said the plate-cutting was not only the start of construction for the A$306 million Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement project, but also the Australian Government’s A$89 billion Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Program.

“Austal is incredibly proud to be delivering the Commonwealth’s Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project.  Austal is Australia’s only design, build and sustainment shipbuilding company.”

Industry: Defence Industry Minister Opens Austal's New Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Shipbuilding Facility

Austal (ASX: ASB) has welcomed Australian Defence Industry Minister The Hon. Christopher Pyne MP to officially open the company’s new Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) Shipbuilding Facility in Naval Base, Western Australia and herald the commencement of Austal’s steel naval shipbuilding capability.

Minister Pyne cut the red ribbon at the 10,500m² facility in front of key defence industry stakeholders, suppliers and partners from across Australia.

Speaking at the official opening, Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the PPB-R project is estimated to create up to 207 jobs across production, project management, services and support - from Perth Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland.

“The PPB-R project is the first key element in the Federal Government’s Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Plan and Austal is proud to be leading the way by growing Australia’s shipbuilding capability,” he said.

“It is worthy of note that this facility was originally built to service the mining boom and it has now been transformed to support what I anticipate to be a shipbuilding boom here in WA.”

Industry: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull inspects Austals Western Australian shipyard

Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPBR)

Austal Limited (ASX:ASB) has welcomed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the company’s Henderson, Western Australia shipyard, proudly demonstrating the facility’s proven naval shipbuilding capabilities, innovation and export success.

Following the recent awarding of the $305 million Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPBR) contract, comprising 19 vessels made from Australian steel, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to meet Austal’s highly skilled and experienced shipbuilding team that will deliver the program for the Commonwealth of Australia. Twelve Pacific Island nations will benefit from the all new 40m Pacific Patrol Boats, which will be supported from Austal’s Cairns service facilities, from 2018.

Welcoming the Prime Minister to Austal, Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said: “It was a pleasure to have the Prime Minister join us here today to see first-hand how we are gearing up for the Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement Project - and demonstrate our readiness to play a major role in the Commonwealth’s continuous naval shipbuilding program.

AUS: Contract signed for replacement Pacific Patrol Boats

Austal's Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Design (Click to Enlarge)

The Turnbull Government today signed a contract with Austal Ships Pty Ltd to build and sustain up to 21 steel-hulled vessels to replace the existing fleet of Pacific Patrol Boats as part of Australia’s new Pacific Maritime Security Program.

As part of the $280 million (ex-GST) contract Austal will design and construct the first 19 vessels in Henderson, securing more than 120 jobs for Western Australia.

Two vessels have also been offered to a new member of the Program, Timor-Leste, with an option for these additional vessels to be constructed by Austal at an agreed fixed price should Timor-Leste accept the offer.

Austal has also been awarded a $24 million (ex-GST) contract to provide support services to the replacement vessels for an initial seven-year period. The total investment in support and sustainment of the vessels, including the conduct of deep maintenance in Cairns, Queensland, is estimated at more than $400 million across the life of the vessels.

Industry: Austal selected as preferred tenderer for Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement project

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce it has been awarded preferred tenderer status by the Commonwealth of Australia for the Pacific Patrol Boats Replacement (PPBR) Project.

The PPBR project involves the construction of up to 21 steel-hulled patrol vessels and through life sustainment over 30 years in a total Government expenditure of up to $900 million. Austal’s share of the PPBR program will include the construction of the vessels and short to medium term maintenance components of the project.

Austal will now work with the Commonwealth of Australia to complete documentation and finalise the contract over the coming weeks. Full details will be provided to the market when the contract is finalised.

Austal plans to construct the Pacific Patrol Boats in its shipyard in Henderson, WA, with through-life support to be performed at Austal’s existing facility in Cairns, Queensland. The vessels will replace the existing Pacific Patrol Boat fleet, which is approaching the end of its service life, and will assist Pacific Island countries to continue to take an active part in securing their own extensive Exclusive Economic Zones.

Think Tank: DWP 2016 - Australia in the South Pacific

Anna Powles

Australia’s 2016 Defence White Paper states that it’s second Strategic Defence Interest is ‘a secure nearer region, encompassing maritime Southeast Asia and the South Pacific’ (3:68), which includes Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Island countries. So what does the White Paper reveal about Australia’s strategic interests in the South Pacific?

Well, in short, nothing that different than the previous two White Papers. The 2016 White Paper differs little from the 2013 and 2009 iterations on matters of the South Pacific. The same risks are articulated in the same language. The single major difference between the Turnbull, Gillard and Rudd White Papers is the defence build-up as outlined in the 2016 White Paper and how it will potentially impact the Pacific.

However, the White Paper is revealing for its three explicit messages about Australia’s view of the Pacific. Those are: Australia as the principal security partner in the region; state fragility and instability as a source of threat to Australia; and external actors taking advantage of fragility and instability and challenging Australia’s interests. However, those three themes are variations on leitmotifs found throughout earlier White Papers and the broader Australian narrative about its immediate neighbourhood. It is worth examining these messages in greater detail.

AUS: Australia-New Zealand defence ministers to meet

Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne will meet with her New Zealand counterpart, Minister of Defence the Hon Gerry Brownlee MP, in Christchurch on Monday 14 December 2015.

“This will be our first formal bilateral meeting and will provide a timely opportunity to discuss mutual defence and security issues,” Minister Payne said.

The Ministers will discuss a range of security issues, including international efforts to counter Da’esh and the work of the Australian and New Zealand defence forces in deployments such as the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai, Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan, and the Building Partner Capacity mission in Iraq.

“Regional security initiatives such as the Pacific Maritime Security Program and our respective Defence White Papers, both scheduled to be released early next year, will also be discussed,” Minister Payne said.

“Australia’s defence relationship with New Zealand is one of our most enduring and important security partnerships. We are committed to deepening our strategic dialogue, practical cooperation, and enhancing our interoperability.

“Our discussions on Monday will take place as both countries carry out major Defence reforms, modernise our capabilities, and weigh how to respond to complex strategic challenges,” she said.

AUS DoD (Minister for Defence)

Think Tank: The Southwest Pacific - A strategic priority for Australia

Pacific class Patrol Boat operators (File Photo)

Kevin Andrews

The Defence White Paper, to be released later this year, will set out how Australia will respond to its future strategic environment and will outline a strategy for securing Australia’s strategic interests in the period to 2035 and beyond.

It’ll give substance to the principle that the primary purpose of the ADF and Defence is to secure Australia and to shape Australia’s strategic environment in support of our national interests.

Yet, Defence does not exist in isolation. The White Paper will be a whole-of-government product. It’ll focus on Defence’s role as an element of a broader national approach, alongside our diplomatic, trade, policing, intelligence and aid efforts. And it’ll reflect the Government’s overall strategic, fiscal and broader policy priorities.

As a nation we cannot secure our strategic interests in isolation either. That’s why the security of Australia’s immediate neighbourhood, including the South West Pacific, is one of the highest strategic priorities for Australia. We are committed to supporting regional stability.

AUS: Minister reinforces Pacific relationships at second Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting in Papua New Guinea

Today I (Minister for Defence: Kevin Andrews) attended the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) with Defence Ministers from New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, as well as senior representatives from France and Chile.  

I extend my congratulations and thanks to Minister Pok, the Defence Minister for Papua New Guinea, on hosting a successful meeting.  

During discussions, I affirmed Australia’s support for this dialogue as an important avenue to deepen security partnerships in the region. It was agreed that the forum will continue to meet biennially and the governance framework was formally endorsed by members. The next meeting will be hosted by New Zealand in 2017.

A range of new initiatives were agreed to help drive enhanced regional cooperation. Members formally endorsed the collaborative multilateral exercise framework known as POVAI ENDEAVOUR. Under this exercise framework, regional partners will be able to better align cooperative efforts in maritime security, stabilisation operations and peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.  

AUS: Timor-Leste Secretary of State for Defence visit

Maritime security and regional stability were key points of discussion when Minister for Defence David Johnston and the Timor-Leste Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Júlio Tomás Pinto met in Canberra.

Senator Johnston said today’s meeting addressed bilateral defence activities including the Defence Cooperation Program.

“Australia and Timor-Leste share a close and cooperative defence relationship and, as close neighbours, both countries are committed to supporting regional stability,” Senator Johnston said.

“The security situation in Timor-Leste has remained calm and stable over the past few years, and Australia acknowledges the efforts of the Government and the people of Timor-Leste in achieving these conditions.”