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missions and the OPV will be the
primary ADF asset for maritime
patrol and response duties’.
In April 2016, the three contenders
for the $3bn OPV project were
named, Damen of the Netherlands,
Fassmer of Germany and Lürssen
of Germany. Civmec/Forgacs had
discussions with all three. Forgacs
ended up singing a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with ASC, the
government owned shipbuilder, to
bid in partnership for two of the three
designers, Damen and Lürssen. The
winner will start construction in 2018
with the first vessel delivered in 2021
– and as long as the design of either of
those companies wins out, Forgacs, in
partnership with ASC will be involved
in constructing them, initially in South
Australia and transitioning to their
facilities at Henderson in Western
Australia. This would take Civmec into
a new league, though one for which
it is thoroughly prepared. And as the
government’s wish is for a continuous
build and maintenance deal, it could
bring in work for decades to come.
Staying on track
Both client and partner will be
able to check daily progress of
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