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Australia’s builder of major warships, ASC Shipbuilding, has been recognised internationally, winning a maritime safety award for an in-house designed-and-built system that monitors fire risks and directs the emergency response.
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The Royal Institute of Naval Architects (RINA) awarded ASC Shipbuilding the Lloyd's Register Maritime Safety Award 2017, recognising a significant technological contribution to improving maritime safety.
The Portable Fire Control System was designed and manufactured by ASC Shipbuilding personnel and is partly credited with a track record of eight years in which there have been no major fire incidents at the ASC Shipbuilding facility in Osborne, South Australia.
The system is a network of dozens of multi-function panels distributed throughout a major vessel under construction that are used to raise the alarm and provide information of any fires or fire risks detected.
The award was accepted at the annual awards gala of the Royal Institute of Marine Architects, held in London in April. The Portable Fire Control System was developed jointly by ASC Shipbuilding’s electrical and controls team and emergency response group.
ASC Shipbuilding acting CEO Jim Cuthill said the award also recognised the safety and learning culture of the company, which employs more than 1,000 of Australia’s shipbuilders, responsible for delivering the ship platforms for the Air Warfare Destroyer program.
"ASC Shipbuilding may be a young company but we are showing we have cutting-edge capability and a highly productive workforce," Cuthill said.
The award comes as ASC looks to secure a significant role in the $35 billion Future Frigates program, with the government set to decide on the winning designer expected in the next month.
"This prestigious international award demonstrates our commitment to practical safety and innovation – qualities which our workforce will bring to future shipbuilding roles, starting with the Offshore Patrol Vessel program later this year. ASC Shipbuilding is also strongly placed to become the sovereign Australian shipbuilder of the Future Frigates, starting in 2020, subcontracting to the prime contractor-designer of the government’s choice," Cuthill said.
ASC will commence work on the Offshore Patrol Vessel program later this year before the project moves to Western Australia where Civmec will play a leading role in the build of the remaining 10 vessels.
The Portable Emergency Management Kit.
