THE expansion of Western Australia’s shipbuilding facilities at the Henderson-based Australian Marine Complex will continue, with the state government announcing that two new common-use facilities would be constructed. Government agency LandCorp has called for expressions of interest to build a service and repair facility, and a blast and paint facility at the AMC. The service and repair facility will provide for manufacturing, servicing, repair and upgrade of super-yachts, to be built on a four hectare site with a shorefront of 250 metres. It will also cater for shipbuilders that do not have direct waterfront access. The blast and paint facility will service the marine and defence industry, providing assistance for local industry in bids for the Royal Australian Navy’s $6 billion air warfare destroyer contract and the $2 billion amphibious ships contract. Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan said the marked increase in work being conducted at the AMC had necessitated the new facilities, particularly in fabrication of large modules for the resources sector and major maintenance and refits of large ships. “WA is the perfect base for this fast growing marine industry sector, and this new common-use facility will be available for all super-yacht and commercial shipbuilders to use for the launch, retrieval, sea trials, refits and maintenance of vessels,” Mr Logan said. Annual production of super-yachts has tripled within the past decade.