Serco, Civmec partner on LAND 8710 with new joint venture
9 May 2022
Civmec and Serco have announced the formation of a new joint venture, dubbed the Australian Maritime Alliance, to tackle next-generation amphibious solutions for Defence.
Under the agreement, the pair are leading a team for the development of a solution for the LAND 8710-1A program, with the design of the new ‘Oboe’ Littoral Manoeuvre Vessel Medium.
Over the last 20 years, Serco has delivered 130 vessels to the Australian Commonwealth with program managers, naval architects and engineers appointed to support Defence’s naval capabilities across the country.
Meanwhile, located in Henderson, Western Australia, Civmec has invested in enhancing its shipbuilding and sustainment capabilities with a new 70-metre-high hall – supporting marine, defence and resources sectors.
“Serco and Civmec share a vision to provide the crucial leadership that the Australian shipbuilding sector requires, signalling an industry-led strategic approach to deliver and support essential sovereign military capabilities and sustainable workshare outcomes,” Serco Defence managing director Clint Thomas said.
“With Serco and Civmec’s complementary capabilities and shared community values for realising the sustained growth of Australia’s shipbuilding industry, our alliance is set to deliver proven benefits through uplifting Western Australian industry capabilities, matching Serco’s global shipbuilding expertise and reach with Civmec’s superlative workforce skills, proven technology and infrastructure capacity.”
The pair have a combined workforce of 19,000.
Chief executive of Civmec, Pat Tallon, welcomed the announcement.
“I am proud that Civmec is evolving to be a solid option for the Commonwealth as it seeks to expand on the Sovereign shipbuilding and sustainment capability. We are committed to the charge and look forward to forging strong relationships with Serco and others that are integral to meeting the demands of the ADF,” Tallon said.
“Civmec’s Henderson facility offers unmatched shipbuilding capacity to deliver for the Commonwealth’s naval shipbuilding programs and combined with our new state-of-the-art ship assembly hall, we operate the largest fabrication workshops in Australia.
“This project builds on our experience gained through the ongoing delivery of the SEA 1180 Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel program. The LMV-M platform will allow us to continue to demonstrate our innovative approach to shipbuilding.”
Source: Defence Connect