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Babcock Australasia has propelled three of its Australian suppliers into its global supply chain following a procurement request for an in-water clean on a Royal New Zealand Navy frigate in Australian waters.
Five contracts were awarded to Franmarine, Allship Engineering and Ausbright Electrical for maintenance work conducted on HMNZS Te Kaha, consisting of an in-water hull inspection and clean, an A-bracket reading and mechanical and electrical authorised officer services.
The newly executed agreements are the first secured by Babcock through the Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program – a Commonwealth initiative designed to develop a sustainable and resilient sovereign defence capability by integrating Australian solutions into international markets.
“The Defence Industry Development Strategy 2024 listed the expansion of the GSC Program as a priority for the nation,” Babcock Australasia CEO Andrew Cridland said.
“Babcock has hit the ground running with a dedicated delivery team to identify, assess and qualify national suppliers with capability solutions across all technology readiness levels and this hard work is now bearing fruit with our supply partners scaling their solutions internationally.”
Babcock’s dedicated delivery team has been rigorously pursuing export opportunities for its sovereign supplier base since being handpicked to join the GSC Program in July 2024, with dozens of live procurements being progressed.
“Babcock is committed to finding, advocating and providing long-term contract opportunities for our supplier base in a highly competitive export market, so we are thrilled to have secured this first lot of contracts through the Global Supply Chain Program,” Babcock Australasia GSC Program manager Kellie Jenkins.
“By evaluating our global supply chain and identifying areas where local capabilities from the likes of Franmarine, Allship Engineering and Ausbright Electrical can be integrated, we are not just enhancing our operational efficiency but also fostering a sustainable ecosystem for the defence industry.”
As part of its commitment to putting Australian suppliers front and centre on the global stage, the team is strategically located in both Australia and the UK to identify capability gaps and provide a continuous gateway to international trade opportunities.
Babcock’s GSC Program team has participated in eight international events in the past six months, raising awareness of its supplier’s sovereign capability and expertise, including the MSPO trade show in Poland, Land Forces in Melbourne and the Euronaval trade show in London. It has also conducted dozens of meetings with key stakeholders such as Austrade, the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group and other global trade representatives.
“Franmarine is proud to be a participant in Babcock’s GSC Program and very pleased to be securing the first contracts together as a result,” Franmarine CEO Adam Falconer-West said.
“Australia’s stringent in-water cleaning standards have driven Franmarine to develop world-leading biofouling management and underwater sustainment capability in lieu of dry docking.
“The GSC Program represents an effective means of validating this within an international defence market context, delivering better outcomes for customers of capability and Australia’s defence industry concurrently.”
In 2025, the team will continue to engage and seek opportunities for Australian small businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) visits in NSW, a supplier engagement day at Henderson, Western Australia, and attendance at Avalon International Airshow in March. The team will also head to New Zealand in April to promote Australian-made solutions.
“Allship Engineering is proud to be part of Babcock’s Global Supply Chain Program, supporting the HMNZS Te Kaha project,” Allship Engineering managing director Andrew Neaves said.
“This collaboration highlights the diverse capability of Australian SMEs, and we are excited to contribute our expertise in marine engineering to the growing global defence market.
“Since becoming a Babcock supplier in 2016, Allship has grown significantly, with 25 apprentices having passed through our doors, 14 of whom are still with us today.
“We are committed to maintaining a 20 per cent apprenticeship rate, ensuring we continue to invest in the future of the Australian defence workforce while delivering high-quality solutions to the industry.”
