The contract for 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) for the Royal Australian Navy has been signed with lead designer, Lürssen.
The $3 billion SEA1180 project will see 12 OPVs based on Lürssen’s OPV80 design delivered to the RAN over the next decade. The first two vessels will be built by ASC at Osbourne in Adelaide from later this year, and the remaining 10 will be constructed at the Henderson yard in Fremantle from 2020 by Austal and Civmec Forgacs.
“This contract signature demonstrates the Turnbull Government’s commitment to keeping on schedule and supporting Australian industry,” Minister Pyne said in a statement.
“The vessels will be delivered by Australian workers, in Australian shipyards using Australian steel. The project will create around 1000 jobs – 400 direct and a further 600 in the supply chain.”
The OPVs will initially complement and eventually replace the Armidale class patrol boats (ACPV) in service.