Australian Naval Infrastructure has selected a joint venture between Amentum and Laing O’Rourke as its capability partner for the development of a nuclear-powered submarine construction yard in South Australia.
Under a long-term contract, the joint venture will support development of the facility at Osborne, north of Adelaide, where Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines will be built under the AUKUS security partnership between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
As part of Australian Naval Infrastructure’s Integrated Delivery Office, the partnership will provide nuclear programme management, construction management and safety leadership.
It will also coordinate work packages, support contractor engagement and manage interfaces between nuclear and non-nuclear areas of the site.
The construction yard will enable Australia to assemble, outfit, test and commission its future fleet of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines domestically for the first time.
Amentum remarked that the project is expected to create thousands of skilled jobs in South Australia while supporting the country’s defence industrial capabilities and nuclear submarine programme.
