CAIRNS has missed out on a $500 million contract to build up to 21 Pacific class patrol boats, involving hundreds of jobs.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today announced that West Australian shipbuilder Austal as the preferred tenderer to build the vessels.
However, his announcement says Austal “proposes to conduct support of the replacement Pacific Patrol Boats including deep maintenance from Cairns, Queensland”.
“In total, through-life support and sustainment (including deep maintenance) for the Pacific Patrol Boats is valued at a further $400m over the life of the boats.”
The Cairns-based consortium, of principal contractor Teekay, Damen, BSE Maritime Solutions (Cairns Slipways) and Norship Marine, was the other short-listed bidder. The consortium is trying to clarify what the support and maintenance aspect of the decision means for the city’s shipyard sector.
SOURCE: Cairns Post
