Naval shipbuilding industry: Dutch designed-vessel picked for major WA project out of Henderson

A Dutch-designed vessel has been selected for a major shipbuilding project out of Henderson in WA. The Federal Government has chosen Damen Shipyard Group’s Landing Ship Transport 100 (LST 100) as the preferred model for the ADF’s fleet of heavy landing craft. The 100-metre-long vessel is capable of carrying 500 tonnes of military vehicles and equipment. Austal will build eight vessels out of the Henderson shipyard, subject to commercial negotiations. Construction on the first ship is scheduled to start in 2026. The heavy landing craft and 18 medium landing craft – also to be built at Henderson – will combine to form the Army’s new littoral fleet. The projects are expected to create 1100 direct jobs and more than 2000 indirect jobs as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to a continuous stream of shipbuilding in WA. “Their construction in WA will create and sustain jobs and build opportunities for Australian industry in years to come,” Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said. WA Defence Industry Minister Paul Papalia said the announcement was further confirmation of the State’s central role in boosting Australia’s sovereign capability. “Building landing craft in WA will inject up to $10 billion into the State helping deliver real diversity to our economy,” Mr Papalia said. “It comes after years of advocacy by the State Government, and we can now look forward to generations of well-paid jobs for WA families.”