Australia’s biggest steelworks will produce and deliver thousands of tonnes of steel plate into each Hunter class anti-submarine warfare frigate under a new Framework Agreement that locks in local steel supply over the next five years.
Steel produced at BlueScope Group’s Port Kembla Steelworks in New South Wales is a critical part of the construction of the first of three Hunter class frigates at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.
According to BAE Systems, the Framework Agreement provides 'long term stability and continuity' for Australian steel plate to be supplied into the ship build, which now has more than 41 of the 78 units for Ship 01 currently in production at Osborne.
Seventy-seven per cent of the total amount of steel required to manufacture the first Hunter class frigate will be procured from BlueScope Distribution. Approximately 5,000 tonnes of Australian made steel will be secured and delivered for each ship.
According to BAE, specialised steel has been engineered to meet the specific requirements for the Hunter class frigates, and this custom material delivers 'high strength and exceptional toughness, ensuring outstanding performance in the most demanding marine environments.'
BlueScope Distribution says it will be able to provide warehousing and logistics services that meet the ‘steel in, ships out’ delivery that facilitates the optimal build sequencing for the Hunter class frigates.
The Framework Agreement will also enable BAE Systems to secure single source supply across its Australian business, as part of a package that includes technical product support, certification, material traceability and project management services.
“This agreement secures the future for Australian made steel plate for the Hunter Class Frigate program, providing the safety and sovereignty to ensure that the most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates are constructed to the highest quality standard.
“The Hunter Class Frigate Program is a national endeavour and Australian companies like BlueScope understand the need to provide a resilient sovereign supply chain that will build the naval capability to protect our undersea lines of communication and maritime trade routes.”