Icebreaker Aurora Australis, pictured when it was stuck in ice 80 nautical miles from the Antarctic coast. Source: AAP
TECHPORT in Osborne is reportedly in line to build a new icebreaker for Australia's Antarctica expeditions.
The work could be undertaken by the team of companies which is building three air warfare destroyers for the AWD Alliance.
The destroyer schedule was extended by the Federal Government last year but the industry still fears a gap between building the ships and the next generation submarines, leading to an exodus of skilled workers.
Building an icebreaker would help retain workers.
Environment Minister Tony Burke has called a request for proposal - the first step towards a bidding process - on building the icebreaker.
The current vessel, Aurora Australis, had been supporting Australia's Antarctic program for more than 23 years and was nearing the end of its useful life, he said.
"Our Antarctic explorers stand on the shoulders of the great explorers and scientists and they stand on the decks of the great vessels which have made the journey through the ice," he said.
"Australia is committed to remaining a leading Antarctic nation.
"The icebreaker plays an essential role in resupplying our Antarctic stations and supporting critical Antarctic and Southern Ocean research.
"Ensuring Australia has future access to an icebreaker appropriate for the challenging conditions and future requirements is a top priority."
The Government had allocated $1.7 million in 2012-13 for the development of a detailed business case for a new Antarctic shipping capability.
"We have invited industry to come forward with cost-effective proposals for a new ship to inform the next stage of the Government's consideration, but no decisions have yet been made on proceeding with further stages of the procurement," Mr Burke said in opening the request for proposal last month.
It was reported by the Australian Financial Review today that the Federal Government was keen to set the work in train with the AWD Alliance before the federal election in September.
The AWD Alliance brings together government-owned shipbuilder ASC, the Defence Materiel Organisation and weapons provider Raytheon.
Destroyer blocks have been manufactured by ASC in Osborne, Forgacs in Newcastle, BAE Systems in Victoria and Navantia in Spain.
The icebreaker would be procured by the Environment Department not Defence and would not require military weapons - so a different alliance would need to be created.
However, ASC, Forgacs and BAE Systems would welcome the work and would have co-operative procedures already in place.
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