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Australian shipbuilder and defence prime Austal Australia has entered a memorandum of understanding with engineering services company Harland & Wolff Group to pursue shipbuilding opportunities in the United Kingdom.
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Both organisations signed the agreement at the 2023 Indo Pacific Maritime Exposition in Sydney earlier this month.
The memorandum of understanding includes the transfer of technology, skills, and shipyard capabilities required to build the next generation of patrol vessels for the United Kingdom for maritime security agencies.
Austal Limited chief executive officer Paddy Gregg said the memorandum of understanding was the first step towards winning new business in the United Kingdom, collaborating with Harland & Wolff, an established manufacturing, services and support company operating in the maritime defence industry.
“Harland & Wolff is an ideal partner for Austal in the pursuit of defence opportunities in the United Kingdom with the facilities, expertise and capabilities to effectively pursue and help deliver new vessels for organisations such as the UK Border Force,” he said.
“We look forward to collaborating with Harland Wolff on new opportunities that leverage Austal’s proven leadership in aluminium patrol boat design and construction.”
Both parties have identified opportunities in the UK market, including the Border Force vessel replacement program, and intend to work jointly in a non-exclusive partnership on such opportunities.
“I am delighted to have signed this MOU with Austal, a global leader in the aluminium vessel market. As we embark on the next phase of the company’s growth and development, we will be partnering with Austal not only for the transfer of technology to build aluminium vessels but to also join hands with them when bidding for contracts,” according to Harland & Wolff Group chief executive officer John Wood.
“Austal’s skills and decades of experience in the aluminium build space and border security vessels are second to none.
“I look forward to working closely with them to build the next-generation shipyard capability for aluminium vessels in the UK.”
Earlier this year, Austal USA was awarded a $143.4 million contract to construct three Landing Craft Utility 1700 Class craft for the US Navy.
The contract follows a previous agreement for the detailed design of the steel hull LCU 1700 Class vessels and includes options for manufacturing an additional nine vessels and associated support arrangements.
The 170-tonne payload capacity, 13-crew craft are expected to be deployed with the Navy’s amphibious assault ships to support delivery of troops, cargo, tracked and wheeled vehicles between ship and shore. Each transport has a top speed of 11 knots and transits a range of 1,200 nautical miles.
The independent open ocean craft has a roll-on and off monohull design with hydraulically controlled bow and stern ramps and has the capability to connect and form a causeway for fast and secure unloading or loading.
