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Lloyd’s Register has secured an $11 million contract with Austal Defence Australia to provide independent classification and assurance services for the Australian Army’s 18-ship Landing Craft Medium program, supporting one of the nation’s largest recent investments in sovereign maritime capability.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has secured an $11 million contract from Austal Defence Australia (ADA) to provide naval classification services throughout construction of the Australian Army’s new Landing Craft Medium (LCM) fleet.
The contract covers the delivery of 18 LCM vessels under a design and build tasking valued at more than $1.029 billion. The program is being delivered by ADA at its Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement and represents a major investment in Australian sovereign shipbuilding capacity.
LR personnel will be embedded at Henderson for the duration of the program, working alongside Austal to independently verify construction, quality-control processes and compliance with agreed naval standards.
The classification services will support vessel assurance from construction through to delivery, helping ensure the LCMs meet required safety, quality and performance standards.
Steve McDowall, director naval business Australasia at Lloyd’s Register, said the program is an important component of Australia’s long-term naval shipbuilding ambitions. “Platforms such as the Landing Craft Medium are critical to that ambition. We are proud to support Austal, the Australian Department of Defence and the Australian Army by providing independent classification and assurance throughout the build program,” he said.
The LCM fleet will provide the Army with a significant increase in its ability to move personnel, vehicles, equipment and supplies between ships and shore, supporting amphibious and littoral operations across Australia and the Indo-Pacific.
The contract further expands LR’s involvement in Australia’s naval construction sector, following its participation in major programs including the Hunter Class frigates and other new-build and sustainment projects.
Austal Defence Australia executive general manager Gavin Stewart said independent classification would provide additional assurance throughout the construction process. “Independent classification provides valuable assurance throughout the construction process and supports our commitment to delivering the highest quality capability for the Australian Army,” he said.
The program is also expected to contribute to the long-term development of Australia’s sovereign naval industrial base, with construction at Henderson supporting skilled employment and a broader domestic maritime supply chain.
For the Australian Army, the 18-vessel fleet represents a substantial expansion of its maritime mobility capacity. For Australian industry, the project demonstrates the growing scale and complexity of the continuous naval shipbuilding effort beyond the Royal Australian Navy’s major surface combatant and submarine programs.
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