A $35 million submarine support facility, which accommodates 185 employees managing a 25-year contract to maintain Australia's Collins Class submarine fleet, was officially opened today.
A $35 million submarine support facility, which accommodates 185 employees managing a 25-year contract to maintain Australia's Collins Class submarine fleet, was officially opened today.
Western Australian Minister for Energy, Resources, Industry and Enterprise Francis Logan and Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement Greg Combet officially opened ASC West at the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson.
Designer and builder of the Collins Class submarines, ASC (formerly known as Australian Submarine Corporation), is Australia's largest specialised defence shipbuilding organisation with naval design and engineering resources unparalleled in Australia's defence industry.
ASC has worked across multiple sites in WA since 1996, and the opening of ASC West represents the amalgamation of three service facilities into one consolidated, cutting-edge submarine support facility.
Greg Tunny, Managing Director of ASC, said the establishment of ASC West signifies a serious commitment towards future submarine support and high-end defence work in Western Australia.
"ASC is committed to our role in providing through-life support maintenance and upgrade services for the Collins Class submarines, and ASC West now allows us to deliver upon our commitment at the highest standards achievable," said Mr Tunny.
"Initially around 185 personnel will be based at the facility undertaking several million dollars worth of submarine support activities each year."
ASC West, which includes office accommodation and dedicated facilities for boat crews and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel, was purpose-built to provide an industry-leading environment for ongoing submarine support, maintenance activities and capability enhancements in a safe and secure environment.
ASC West is positioned adjacent to the Australian Marine Complex' (AMC) Common User Facility and will utilise the open access infrastructure for the docking and transfer of submarines.
Funded by the Western Australian State Government, a floating dock and a self-propelled modular transfer system are currently under development and will prove critical to ASC's operations in Western Australia.
"The proximity to HMAS Stirling naval base on Garden Island, combined with easy access to suppliers and facilities available within the AMC, will enable us to deliver more effective and efficient services to the RAN," said Mr Tunny.
ASC will perform its first submarine docking at ASC West in 2009, when the floating dock commences service at the AMC.
