Luerssen Australia – the company in charge of delivering a new fleet of offshore patrol vessels (OPV) to the Royal Australian Navy – has signed a contract with Tasmanian company Taylor Bros Marine for work on the OPVs.
Taylor Bros will be involved in the design, production and installation of the accommodation spaces on the 12 vessels.
“This marks the ongoing involvement of Taylor Bros in Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding enterprise which has seen the company work on projects such as the LHD amphibious assault ships and air warfare destroyers,” Australian defense industry minister Christopher Pyne commented.
“This latest announcement provides Taylor Bros employee’s ongoing security and allows the company to retain its expertise in naval outfitting.”
The company currently employs 90 personnel with around 60 per cent of its work Defence related.
Luerssen Australia was selected by the Turnbull Government in November 2017 to design and build the navy’s 12 OPVs.
The project, which is worth AU$3.6 billion, will be delivered by Australian workers, in Australian shipyards, using Australian steel.
Minister Pyne said it’s estimated the OPV project will employ up to 1000 Australian workers – 400 direct and 600 in the supply chain.
Construction of the first vessel is starting this year at Osborne in South Australia.