CANBERRA -- Construction has begun on the Australian Navy’s new Offshore Patrol Vessels at Osborne in South Australia.
Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne said the multi-billion dollar project will see 12 OPVs delivered.
The OPVs will have an important role protecting Austrlian borders and will provide greater range and endurance than the existing patrol boat fleet.
"The OPV project is expected to create up to 1000 direct and indirect jobs," said Minister Pyne.
The first two vessels will be built at Osborne before Civmec starts constructing the next 10 at Henderson in Western Australia.
Minister Pyne said ASC Shipbuilding will use its expertise gained through the Air Warfare Destroyer program to build the first two OPVs.
"These new vessels are being built in Australian facilities, with Australian steel, and by Australian workers," said Pyne. "Only a year ago we announced Lürssen was the preferred tenderer. It’s a fantastic achievement to start construction on time and on budget and I’d like to thank everyone involved in the project."
The Government’s $90 billion dollar continuous naval shipbuilding program is the largest and most ambitious capital investment ever undertaken in Australia.
"This investment is about more than building ships, submarines and shipyards because it will establish an Australian sovereign capability, " said Pyne. "The continuous shipbuilding program will act as a catalyst for industry growth which will secure thousands of Australian jobs for decades."
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