ASC today congratulates BAE Systems on their selection as the designer of Australia’s Future Frigates and congratulates the Federal Government on their leadership in support of a sovereign and sustainable naval shipbuilding industry.
ASC today congratulates BAE Systems on their selection as the designer of Australia’s Future Frigates and congratulates the Federal Government on their leadership in support of a sovereign and sustainable naval shipbuilding industry.
ASC Chairman Bruce Carter said the decision to have ASC Shipbuilding build the Future Frigates as part of BAE Systems group is recognition of the shipbuilding capability built up within ASC over the last 10 years.
“The skill, performance, commitment to quality, safety and innovation of the ASC shipbuilding workforce ensures Australia has highly capable warships to defend its interests and I congratulate the workers on what they have achieved,” Mr Carter said.
“ASC wholeheartedly supports the Government’s acknowledgement of the significant value to our nation of a skilled naval shipbuilding workforce and its commitment to a long-term investment to make sure this important industry enjoys a sustainable future in Australia and that these critical skills are maintained,” he said.”
“Today’s announcement means that ASC’s shipbuilders will have career options and longevity in the defence industry whether it be completing the build of the two remaining Air Warfare Destroyers, building the lead and second Offshore Patrol Vessels and working with BAE Systems to build the nine Future Frigates.”
“With the benefit of BAE Systems knowledge, skills and experience being passed through to ASC Shipbuilding over the course of the Future Frigates program in addition to the capability built through delivering the AWD and OPV programs, ASC Shipbuilding will be well placed to be Australia’s sovereign builder and designer of naval ships.”
“Importantly, there will be no impact on ASC employees’ current terms and conditions.”
“Throughout the Future Frigate tender process ASC enjoyed positive engagement with BAE Systems and we look forward to building on that working relationship as the Future Frigate Program progresses,” he said.
ASC will work closely with the Departments of Finance and Defence, as ASC’s shareholder and customer respectively, to implement this decision to ensure the least disruption to both our workers and our programs.
ENDS
Background information
• ASC was established in 1985 to build the six Collins Class submarines.
• ASC currently maintains and upgrades the Collins Class submarines in South Australia and Western Australia, and also provides submariner training services to the Royal Australian Navy.
• In 2005 ASC was awarded the contract to build Australia’s three Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers as part of the Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance.
• The first destroyer HMAS Hobart is currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy, the second destroyer Brisbane is due to be delivered to the Commonwealth in mid-2018, and the third and final destroyer Sydney is expected to be delivered at the end of 2019.
• ASC is currently in the final stages of negotiations with Offshore Patrol Vessel designer Luerssen of Germany for the build of the first two Offshore Patrol Vessels and construction is expected to commence towards the end of 2018.
• ASC Shipbuilding currently has 1083 employees in South Australia.
• ASC Pty Ltd has a further 1,340 employees working on Collins Class submarine maintenance, future submarine and corporate activities in South Australia and Western Australia (approximately 1,000 of those are in South Australia).
