Australian company Infrabuild Steel Centre has been awarded a contract to support the manufacturing of the Hunter class frigates at the Osborne South shipyard in South Australia.
Under the agreement signed with ASC Shipbuilding – the prime contractor for the Government’s Hunter Class Frigate Program – Infrabuild will supply around 120 tonnes of Australian steel which will be used to make an initial six jig wagons, which will hold and support the movement of ship parts around the state-of-the-art Osborne shipyard.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the contract reflected the ‘continued progress’s being made in the Program.
“This contract follows my earlier announcement this year of a contract with Bluescope Steel to provide steel for the prototyping blocks. Both contracts are prime examples of growing our national naval shipbuilding enterprise with the support of Australian steel,” Minister Reynolds said.
“A total of 13 jig wagons will be manufactured, with the fabrication of the jig wagons from this contract marking the first work being done in the new yard.
“This national endeavour will strengthen our sovereign shipbuilding capability for generations to come.”
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said ASC Shipbuilding would ‘continue to increase Australian industry content’ as the prototyping phase of the program approaches.
“This is all about Aussie jobs and creating a skilled Australian workforce to deliver nine frigates for our Navy,” Minister Price said.
“It is important, now more than ever, to back Australian businesses and create more Australian jobs. That’s why we’re building Australian ships with Australian steel by Australian workers.”
