Steber to build support vessels for Navy

Five unmanned vessels to support Navy mine counter-measures.

NSW boat builder, Steber International, has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract to build five unmanned support vessels for the Royakl Australian Navy. The contract for the build was announced by the Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne, during a visit to the company's manufacturing facilities at Taree on the NSW mid-north coast.

“Steber International has been awarded a contract worth more than $6 million by prime contractor Thales Australia to deliver five vessels to support the navy,” said Senator Payne. “These vessels will be configured as unmanned surface vessels and mine counter-measure support boats that deploy systems to protect our navy assets.

“As a result of this contract, Steber is looking to create 10 new jobs, including specialist staff and apprentices.”

The vessels will have a top speed of 25 knots, a payload in excess of three tonnes and will feature a new naval paint scheme. The project is scheduled for staged delivery across 2018-19.

Steber is also a key partner with Ocius Technology in the innovative Bluebottle Program. The Bluebottle unmanned surface vessel runs on solar, wind and wave energy and can remain at sea for months at a time.

“As a senator for NSW and Minister for Defence, it is fabulous to see local businesses delivering capability to our defence force - NSW truly is the Defence state,” added Senator Payne.

Commenting on the announcement, Steber general manager, Alan Steber said: “The project will provide a variety of employment, trades and supply chain opportunities over the two-year build period.

“The vessels will be built to strict specifications, including Australian Marine Safety Authority requirements, involving surveyors and naval architects.

“In recent times we have ramped up our presence in the defence capability space with development of the Bluebottle range of unmanned surface vessels, and now this contract is a win-win for the Commonwealth of Australia and Steber International.

“We are looking forward to future government projects across naval, customs, fisheries and port security applications,” he added.