Damen submits Aussie OPV bid

Damen Shipyards has submitted its tender for Australia's SEA 1180 Phase 1 project, the company announced on 5 April.

Damen has teamed with ASC Forgacs Shipbuilding in its bid to deliver twelve Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to the Royal Australian Navy. The request for tender was released in November 2016.

Damen's bid includes a commitment to build the initial two ships in South Australia and further ten in Western Australia, to support Australia's continuous naval shipbuilding enterprise. The joint venture is already investing in infrastructure at the Henderson Shipbuilding Precinct in Western Australia in preparation for the OPV construction to move to WA.

Key tenets of the bid include maximising investment in local industries and businesses to establish a long term capability; investment in the training of a future workforce including those transitioning from other industries; and assisting the Australian government to prepare to build future frigates and submarines in SA.

The Damen design being offered uses innovative technology to improve seakeeping, reduce running costs and decrease whole of life sustainment costs.