Naval sustainment dock key to sovereign industrial capability

The Albanese Government is delivering a sovereign industrial base and lifting Defence capability by partnering with Thales Australia to operate and maintain the Captain Cook Graving Dock in Sydney.

The continued operation of the graving dock at Garden Island Defence Precinct is vital to the sustainment of the Royal Australian Navy fleet.

Thales Australia has been awarded a five-year contract, valued at approximately $50 million, which will create up to 30 direct defence industry jobs and support an industrial ship repair workforce of approximately 300 people in the Sydney region.

The asset management of Garden Island Defence Precinct’s reticulated services and supporting systems will be managed by Thales Australia, highlighting the critical role industry plays as a partner in building our naval sustainment capability.

Thales Australia will coordinate and conduct the docking of naval vessels that require out of water maintenance, repair and overhaul and will play a key role in Defence’s national approach to sustainment under the new Maritime Sustainment Model.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“This partnership with Thales Australia will deliver sustainment to our complex naval capability, further strengthening sovereign defence industry relationships while also creating 30 new jobs and supporting hundreds more.

“Enhancing the capability of our vessels is key; but we must meet enduring sustainment demand through advanced and reliable infrastructure. This approach will allow our naval vessels to be ready and up to the job when and where they’re needed.

“This contract is a key enabler to the development of a predictable long-term sustainment demand and further integrates Australian businesses into the supply chain, contributing to a stronger, sovereign defence industry.”