A WHARF upgrade at the Australian Marie Complex at Henderson in WA has added capacity to handle naval and commercial vessel work.
The completion of the $8.2 million Deck Infill project at AMC2, combined with the recently-completed wharf extension work at AMC1, take the usable quayline to 310 metres. The AMC2 wharf works provide improved vehicular and crane access on the wharves to support critical marine maintenance and sustainment requirements for both commercial and Defence vessels, the WA Government says.
The wharf upgrade works at the AMC are part of a suite of State Government initiatives aimed to improve efficiencies at the complex. The government says these works support WA businesses engaged with the sustainment of the Defence Fleet, as well as servicing the oil and gas, resources and energy industries.
Located in Perth’s main industrial corridor, 23 kilometres south of the Perth CBD, the AMC is one of only two naval shipbuilding locations in Australia and is WA’s key shipbuilding and sustainment industrial precinct, supporting the manufacturing, fabrication, assembly and maintenance requirements of the marine, defence, energy and resource industries.
Ironically, the state government has highlighted the role of the improvements in servicing the RAN’s ANZAC-class frigates – which the federal government’s RAN review, released late last month, announced will no longer undergo comprehensive Transcap” upgrades while the two oldest Anzac and Arunta, will be decommissioned early, the former immediately.
WA lands minister John Carey said the AMC upgrades would assist with meeting the increasing demands of other industries vying for wharf and berthing spaces to support fabrication, vessel maintenance and servicing at the AMC Common User Facility: “The Cook Government is committed to developing the naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry and is working with the Commonwealth on further works that will improve the capability of the site.”
Late last year the WA Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Babcock Australasia to focus on industry development alongside workforce training and upskilling at the AMC and HMAS Stirling (Fleet Base West).
