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Defence prime Babcock Australasia and Franmarine are showing the benefits of long-term partnerships for innovation, export opportunities, jobs, and sovereign capability.
A partnership between Babcock and Franmarine to deliver biofouling management services to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is providing an example of what a Prime contractor’s engagement of Australian Industry Capability (AIC) can deliver for SMEs and the Commonwealth.
Babcock and Franmarine have delivered novel biofouling management and ships husbandry capabilities to the RAN since 2018.
Biofouling occurs when organisms attach and grow on the submerged parts of a vessel, such as the ship’s hull, which increases the risk of non-indigenous invasive marine species entering Australian waters, and increases the ship’s drag, and fuel consumption.
Babcock and Franmarine enable the RAN’s Anzac Class Frigates to meet the Australian biofouling management requirements, whilst working in accordance with the Australian In-Water Cleaning Standards to keep Australian waters safe and secure, by preventing the introduction and spread of invasive marine species.
The partnership has seen the development of technology unique to Australia – the integrated blockchain-enabled MarinestreamTM biofouling management system – with Franmarine now preparing to export the software-as-a-service (SaaS), technology and hardware.
MarinestreamTM is a novel technology platform designed to capture data directly from integrated underwater inspection hardware from virtually any MarinestreamTM enabled underwater activity, including cleaning, inspection, maintenance, and repair scopes.
Franmarine CEO, Adam Falconer-West, said the Babcock partnership was instrumental to the company’s growth and development of its technology.
“Partnerships such as these enable reoccurring investment in research and development programmes that lead to positive innovation and technology outcomes which ultimately benefit the Commonwealth of Australia,” Mr Falconer-West said.
“Babcock has trust in Franmarine to deliver underwater sustainment capability while augmenting conventional capability with innovation and technology designed to enhance deliverables.
“Babcock’s support provides a necessary level of confidence while contributing to our financial capacity to maintain research and development.
“Together we have achieved unprecedented results for the RAN that have led to formal commendations on multiple occasions.
“We are now looking forward to applying the technology more broadly to deliver tangible benefits for our customers.”
Babcock Australasia’s Strategic Supply Chain Manager, Sarah Tartakowski, said the collaboration is a key example of Babcock’s commitment to investing in local industry to deliver innovation and capability to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
“We are committed to supporting and growing the local supply chain and proactively work with SMEs to grow local capabilities and create a stronger, more competitive local supply chain that can support the sustainment of our customers’ naval assets, with less reliance on OEMs,” Ms Tartakowski said.
“Our strategic partnership with Franmarine exemplifies our commitment to investing in cutting edge, environmentally friendly biofouling management technology.
“The proactive management of biofouling, inclusive of capture and filtration, is a key part of maritime sustainment for the RAN.
All Anzac Class ships are compliant with national and international biofouling regulations and standards, which enables the RAN to operate at full capability with freedom to transit between territorial waters.
Babcock and Franmarine have also undertaken work on the Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Docks and provided advice to other classes when required to comply with the New Zealand’s Craft Risk Management Standard and Australian Biosecurity Act.
“We’re proud to have supported Franmarine in the development of this technology – delivering environmentally compliant biofouling capabilities – and are excited at the prospects and broader benefits it can provide for the wider RAN fleet, as well as foreign navies,” Ms Tartakowski said.
“Our close partnerships with industry, combined with the asset management skills of our people, delivers a strong and competitive sovereign naval sustainment capability for Australia.”
