MONS talks to AustalFassmer about their OPV in competition for SEA 1180
In the context of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) competition for the replacement of 13 ‘Armidale’ class patrol boats with 12 new vessels (SEA 1180), Fassmer of Germany teamed-up with Austal in Australia to offer the OPV80 RAN. Harald Fassmer, Managing Director of Fassmer, told MONS: “There are two main reasons we teamed-up with Austal. Firstly, because involvement of local industry was a requirement in the tender, but most importantly because we wish to build a vessel that we can then export in the Asia Pacific region and it will be much easier if we are building from Australia.”
The OPV RAN is the latest evolution of the proven Fassmer OPV 80 design, of which seven similar vessels are currently in service with the Chilean and Colombian navies since 2008 while three vessels are under construction for the German Coast Guard.
MONS asked Mr. Fassmer what makes the AustalFassmer OPV80 RAN particularly competitive compared to the other ships offered by Damen and Lürssen for SEA 1180: “The first customer for the OPV80 was the Chilean Navy, for which we had to build a ship that could withstand very harsh sea conditions. Moreover, AustalFassmer are offering a ship with two medium speed engines, instead of two high speed engines, which increases the time between maintenance thus decreasing the costs.” The OPV80 RAN will be able to go as fast as 21knots.
Mr. Fassmer concluded by indicating that the contenders are expecting a decision by the end of October.
AV
