RAN regional maintenance centre opened in Cairns

Photo: Australian Department of Defence

The Royal Australian Navy’s fleet is expanding and will be able to further sustain its edge at sea with the recent opening of the first of four regional maintenance centres in Cairns.

NORSTA Maritime has been announced as the regional maintenance provider to deliver the Regional Maintenance Centre North East in Cairns.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said that under the five-year $70 million contract, NORSTA would coordinate, schedule and manage maintenance for the current and future navy fleet based in Cairns.

Mr Dutton said Cairns’ naval precinct would play an increasingly important role in supporting the RAN into the future.

NORSTA Maritime will build a regional sovereign sustainment capability by developing and maintaining supply chains and nurturing existing regional capabilities.

Regional Maintenance Centre North East in Cairns is the first of four maintenance centres to be developed at strategic ports around the country. The other three centres will be located in Henderson WA, Darwin and Sydney.

Head Maritime Systems Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm said the regional maintenance centres would bring together industry and Defence to sustain the significantly larger and more complex fleet resulting from the continuous naval shipbuilding program.

Regional Maintenance Centre North East will be operating by the end of 2022 and will initially support the Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats before becoming the sustainment hub for the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, which are under construction.


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