The Dutch shipbuilding firm has teamed with ASC Forgacs Shipbuilding, a joint venture established to build the initial two ships in South Australia and further 10 in Western Australia, to compete for the foundation project of Australia’s continuous naval shipbuilding enterprise.

The joint venture is already investing in infrastructure at the Henderson Shipbuilding Precinct in preparation for the OPV construction's move to WA.

German company Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co. KG has also teamed with Forgacs for its OPV tender. 

Another German firm, Fassmer, has teamed with Austal for its OPV bid.

Damen said, with almost 100 vessels operating in Australia already, it has extensive experience providing vessels that are suitable for local conditions and is fully committed to the long-term integration with Australian shipbuilding.

Key tenets of the bid include maximising investment in local industries and businesses to establish a long-term capability; investment in the training of a future workforce including those transitioning from other industries; and assisting the Australian government to prepare to build future frigates and submarines in SA. Damen said the design being offered uses innovative technology to improve seakeeping, reduce running costs and decrease whole of life sustainment costs.

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Roland Briene, Damen sales director Asia-Pacific, said, "We are fully committed to maximising Australian industry participation and supporting the development of a sustainable, national shipbuilding industry in Australia. This is fully in line with our standard practices where we partner with local organisations to help transform local shipbuilding industries into globally competitive shipyards.

"We look forward to working with the Commonwealth to maximise opportunities for Australian industry, drawing on the existing supply chain of our Australian partners, while also providing opportunities for local industry to be involved in our global supply chain supporting more than 70 shipyards around the world."