AMC expansion continues

The development of the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson as a major hub for Western Australian industry took a step forward last week when construction got under way on the local component of a $60 million floating dock.

Perth-based shipbuilder Strategic Marine was awarded the contract to build the floating dock, and will divide the work between its facilities in Australia and Vietnam.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan visited its workshop to start the plasma cutter, which cuts the steel for the state-of-the-art project.
“This is a major milestone in the continuing expansion of the AMC Common User Facility (CUF) as a world class centre of excellence for marine, resources and defence industries,” Ms MacTiernan said.

The state government has committed to spend $174 million on infrastructure upgrades at the AMC.

This included an extension of the wharf and dredging of the harbour to allow access by larger vessels.

The wharf extension doubled the berthing capabilities of the AMC’s common user facility, which will be able to hold four vessels at any one time.

The floating dock will be fully automated, featuring advanced control systems designed and installed by local and international electrical and engineering companies.
 “It will enable local firms to undertake commercial ship repair work, including for the growing super yacht sector,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“It also provides the capability for testing sub-sea oil and gas components and allows WA to bid for a range of major maintenance and construction projects across the marine, defence and resources sectors.”

Strategic Marine will use more than 5,000 tonnes of steel to build the 99 metres long by 53 metres wide structure, which will be capable of providing the land transfer of docked vessels up to 3,500t and lifting 12,000t vessels out of the water for service and maintenance work.

About 60 per cent of the work, including the fabrication of 1,000t in steel modules, will be completed locally by Strategic Marine and other AMC companies.

Steel fabrication and engineering group Ausclad Group of Companies had proposed building the entire structure in WA to showcase the capabilities of local industry to major resources companies but was rejected on the basis of cost.

The floating dock will support ASC Pty Ltd’s 25-year service and maintenance contract for the Collins Class submarines.
ASC Pty Ltd is establishing its own $35 million submarine repair and maintenance facility at the AMC.

The floating dock is scheduled to be completed in time for the first submarine docking in October 2009.

Another major initiative at the AMC is the planned development of an industry cluster for companies servicing the fast-growing subsea oil and gas sector.

Fourteen local and international companies responded to calls for an expression of interest in locating in the proposed subsea cluster.

This included FMC Technologies, Ferguson SeaCabs, Thales Under-water Systems, Aker Kvaerner ASA, Subsea 7 Inc, Well Ops, Vetcogray Subsea Systems and Cameron.

Energy and Resources Minister Francis Logan believes WA provides a wealth of opportunities for exploration, production and service industries in the oil and gas sector.