, Following last week’s announcement of the selection of Navantia’s ‘Existing’ design for Australia’s Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Program, shipbuilder ASC has today awarded its first major contract for the Program’s A$100 million shipyard to South Australian firm Hansen Yuncken.
The new shipyard will become ASC’s construction and consolidation site for the multi-billion dollar Hobart Class AWD Program. It is ASC’s biggest infrastructure program since the 1987 establishment of the Collins Class submarine facility at Osborne, Adelaide.
South Australian firm Hansen Yuncken has been selected by ASC to design and construct the shipyard, which will be located adjacent to Techport Australia’s Common User Facility in Osborne.
ASC’s shipyard will include the development of dedicated AWD production facilities, new office accommodation for 400 employees, a wharf support building with office space and workshops, and a significant upgrade to existing facilities.
John Gallacher, Chief Executive Officer of ASC Shipbuilding, said development of the shipyard held unique challenges not often found in local construction programs.
“Our shipyard production facilities and infrastructure will need to be capable of handling and transporting ship components weighing up to 1,200 tonnes each – this is no common development project” he said.
“Building the AWDs will be a highly complex task, and we are confident that Hansen Yuncken has the capability to design and build the facilities we require to deliver three air warfare destroyers.
“Final designs are scheduled to be completed in September 2007, with construction to commence in October 2007 and be completed by October 2009. Upon satisfactory completion of the design phase, Hansen Yuncken will again be contracted to perform the associated shipyard construction.
“Given the unique diversity of the infrastructure required, there’s no surprise South Australian industry has generated so much momentum for this massive project”, said Mr Gallacher.
“ASC looks forward to working with Hansen Yuncken to master plan, design and ultimately construct our AWD shipyard.”
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