The SEA 1180 Offshore Patrol Vessel project has reached a significant milestone with the release of the Request for Tender (RFT) to the three shortlisted designers, Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne has announced.

Damen, Fassmer and Lürssen, which were shortlisted to refine their designs as part of a competitive evaluation process, will be teaming up with Australian shipbuilders.

“We want to ensure the tenderers’ responses maximise Australian industry opportunities through a local build using Australian-made steel,” Minister Pyne said in a statement.

“The Request for Tender will require each tenderer to develop an Australian Industry Capability plan that maximises the opportunities for Australian industry participation.

“This includes how they will transition their existing supply chains to Australian supply chains, and how they will integrate local suppliers in their global supply chains.”

The federal government announced in April that construction of the 12 vessels will begin in Adelaide from 2018 and then be transferred to Western Australia in 2020.

The project is on track, Minister for Defence Senator Marise Payne confirmed; indeed, good progress is being made compared to a timetable outlined in May by Kim Gillis, Deputy Secretary Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).

An RFT was due to be released in January 2017, following the risk reduction design studies, and was expected to close in June 2017. Second pass was anticipated in the third quarter of 2017, Gillis said, with a contract signature in the fourth quarter of 2017.

“The 12 new Offshore Patrol Vessels will enhance our border protection and patrol missions by providing greater reach and endurance than the existing Armidale class patrol boat fleet,” said Senator Payne.

“These Australian-built vessels will form an important part of the government’s investment to strengthen our maritime surveillance systems.”