Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition

Earlier this week a few of the Indo Pacific 2025 team were invited to Ticketek's Summit at South by South West (SXSW) at International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney ). SXSW hosted at the beautiful International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney ) where Indo Pacific 2025 will be held from 4-6 November, 2025.  Learn more about Indo Pacific 2025 here - https://lnkd.in/gGdd9AkD #VenuePartners #IndoPacific2025 #SXSW 

Meet with representatives from the Indo Pacific team who will be onsite exhibiting at EURONAVAL France next month from 4-6 November.🚢 The week will mark only one year to go until the next edition of the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in 2025, and is the perfect opportunity to ensure you have secured your exhibition space for this vital maritime event. The Indo Pacific 2025 team will exhibit on stand D35 at Euronaval and welcomes meetings to discuss opportunities to connect and do business with the Australian naval defence and maritime markets. Don’t miss the chance to connect at Euronaval - schedule your appointment today, email [email protected].🗓️ We look forward to seeing you there! #EN24 #IndoPacific2025

Western Australia’s Civmec has entered into a non-binding agreement with NVL B.V. & Co. KG (Naval Vessels Lürssen) of Bremen, Germany, to acquire Luerssen Australia. Luerssen Australia’s sole business is the building of six Arafura Class Offshore Patrol vessels for the Royal Australian Navy under the existing SEA1180 contract with the Australian Department of Defence. Upon completion of the potential transaction, which is subject to Australian Commonwealth consent, NVL will transfer all its shareholding in Luerssen Australia Pty Ltd to Civmec Limited, including all assets, employees, and licences. This ensures the uninterrupted design and build of the Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels at the Osborne South shipyard in South Australia and the Civmec-owned facility in Henderson, Western Australia. “The acquisition of Luerssen Australia is a natural step for Civmec as a sovereign Australian shipbuilder with world class shipbuilding facilities and an experienced shipbuilding workforce," said Civmec’s Executive Chairman, Mr Jim Fitzgerald. "Having worked on the project since 2018 we’re confident in our ability to execute the remaining work scope and ensure a smooth transition for all stakeholders.” “We’re very confident in Civmec’s ability to finish the remaining works on the SEA1180 project and NVL will ensure they are supported by us until Civmec’s successful completion of the project," said Luerssen Australia’s Chairman (and CEO of NVL), Mr Tim Wagner. "We appreciate there are many details to work through and we look forward to engaging with all stakeholders, including the Commonwealth, Luerssen Australia employees and suppliers to ensure a smooth and successful transition.”

The Australian Government has announced it will establish a consolidated Commonwealth-owned Defence Precinct at Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard, to support the build of new landing craft for the Australian Army and new general purpose frigates for the Royal Australian Navy, with requisite large vessel infrastructure to form part of the Precinct. The Precinct will also be the home of depot-level maintenance and contingency docking for Australia’s future conventionally‑armed, nuclear-powered submarines. In announcing the Precinct, the Federal Government said it would “underpin tens of billions of dollars of investment in defence capabilities in the West over the next two decades and support in the order of 10,000 well-paid, high-skilled local jobs”. To deliver the long-term program, the Australian Government and Western Australian State Government have signed a Cooperation Agreement, which provides a foundation for collaboration to deliver the Defence Precinct and related activities. This will include: - Developing a dedicated joint forum to deliver the skilled workforce required to deliver and sustain critical Defence capabilities. - Establishing the necessary infrastructure, including common user facilities, to support industry across the Defence Precinct at Henderson. - Ensuring effective engagement across Federal, State and Local governments and communities. See the Full Agreement: https://lnkd.in/g6HSkR9u The Federal Government will make an initial investment of $127 million over three years to progress planning, consultations, preliminary design and feasibility studies as well as enabling works for the Defence Precinct at Henderson. “The Albanese Government’s commitments represent the most consequential defence investment in Western Australia in nearly four decades, since the commissioning of HMAS Stirling in 1978 and its expanded role as Australia’s Indian Ocean fleet base under the 1987 two-oceans navy policy,” said Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. “The Defence Precinct at Henderson will optimise Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment industry while supporting continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine pathway." Image courtesy of Defence

The first Seven Royal Australian Navy (RAN) enlisted sailors have graduated the US Navy Nuclear Power School, in what is seen as another significant milestone for the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) enhanced trilateral security partnership. The seven sailors, alongside a third group of RAN officers who also graduated, are the pioneers towards Australia establishing a sovereign conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) fleet in the early 2030s. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN acknowledged the rigorous training the sailors completed at the school. “Naval Nuclear Power training is exceptionally rigorous and to have seven Australian sailors and five officers complete the program and move on to Nuclear Power Training Unit takes us closer to operating our own SSNs,” Vice Admiral Hammond said. The seven enlisted RAN sailors have trained at the Nuclear Power School since October 2023, learning the science and engineering principles that are fundamental to the design, operation, and maintenance of naval nuclear propulsion plants alongside American and British submariners. The graduates will now attend the United States Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, which trains officers, enlisted sailors, and civilians for shipboard nuclear power plant operation and maintenance of surface ships and submarines in the US Navy’s nuclear fleet. Director-General Australian Submarine Agency, Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead AO, RAN acknowledged the significant milestones of AUKUS this year. “Thirty-seven months after AUKUS’ inception, we are well on our way to developing Australia’s SSN capability,” Vice Admiral Mead said. “Last month, Australian sailors conducted the first maintenance period on an SSN in Australia. Today we graduate the first enlisted personnel from an exceptionally rigorous school; already we have Australian officers serving aboard both US and UK SSNs.” Image courtesy Australian Submarine Agency.

Excited to kick off Day 1 of AUSA 2024 Annual Meeting & Exposition 14-16 October, Washington, DC Meet the AMDA Foundation team at AUSA to discuss Australia's premier industry events. The AMDA Foundation Indo Pacific team in the Australian Pavillion, Hall D, Booth 6013, at AUSA 2024. #IndoPacific2026 #PremierIndustryEvents #AUSA2024

Crew and passengers of Royal New Zealand Navy Ship HMNZS Manawanui were rescued in the early hours of the morning on Sunday in Samoa after the vessel was grounded off the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa. The incident occurred on Saturday evening while conducting a hydrographic survey 1 nautical mile from shore. The 75 crew and passengers began evacuating into lifeboats at 7.52 pm on Saturday 5 October. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) worked closely with the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) who led the rescue effort. Numerous vessels responded to provide assistance, and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon was also deployed to assist.   Rescuers battled currents and winds that were pushing the life rafts and sea boats toward the reefs, and swells made the rescue effort particularly challenging. ``We are very grateful for the assistance of everyone involved, from RCCNZ who coordinated rescue efforts, to the vessels which responded and took our crew and passengers from Manawanui to safety,’’ Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell said. Those on board the life boats and sea boats from HMNZS Manawanui were transferred to vessels that responded to the rescue call and were transported ashore. At this stage the exact cause of the grounding is unknown and this will need further investigation. At 6.40am Sunday, the ship was listing heavily and smoke was visible from the ship. At 9.00am it was known to have capsized and was below the surface. The NZDF is working with authorities to understand the implications and minimise the environmental impacts. Support is being provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Samoan authorities to the crew and passengers from Manawanui and they are being accommodated in Samoa. The NZDF will be sending aircraft to Samoa to bring them back to New Zealand. This was HMNZS Manawanui’s third deployment to the South West Pacific this year. The ship had a series of activities scheduled including in the Kermadec Islands, Samoa, Tokelau and Niue. They sailed from Devonport on 28 September and were due to return home on 1 November. 

Defence is modernising Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) membership processes, with the latest DISP Membership Portal capability release enabling self-management services for existing DISP companies. Free to join and open to any Australian entity wishing to become part of the Defence industry supply chain, DISP is a membership-based program designed to provide industry with security advice and support to ensure organisations have the right security in place for Defence tenders and contracts. The initial release of the portal in December 2023 allowed companies to complete and lodge membership applications online. This new capability release will also uplift the cyber security assessment process to align with the Australian Cyber Security Centre Essential Eight mitigation strategies. Under the Defence Industry Development Grants Program, up to $100,000 is available to assist eligible small to medium enterprises to establish and maintain security accreditation and controls, in line with the DISP – including cyber security. Defence Chief Security Officer, Peter West, said the latest capability release would make it easier for industry to manage their membership. “The DISP Member Portal simplifies the process for membership self-management and provides improved security for member information,” Mr West said. “This launch represents significant progress towards modernising membership processes without compromising security objectives – as outlined in the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS).” A further DISP Portal release planned for Quarter 4, 2024 will deliver fully digitised member services, including a full suite of membership self-reporting and self-service tools, and strengthen DISP compliance capabilities. For more information on the Defence Industry Security Program, visit https://lnkd.in/g3G966mf

International resolve for Indo-Pacific maritime security was on show recently when Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG) HMAS Sydney joined with allies and regional partners in the Yellow Sea to conduct cooperative activities during Operation Argos. Sydney received a replenishment at sea (RAS) and a vertical replenishment from German Navy’s FGS Frankfurt am Main while Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS Aotearoa provided fuel to FGS Baden-Wurttemberg. The ships also conducted officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres including a 'formation foxtrot'. During this manoeuvre, the task group ships reverse their order in a column. Starting from the back, each ship pulls out to port (left) or starboard (right) as directed and speeds up to pass the lead ship. Commanding Officer Sydney Commander Grant Coleman said getting to work with other nations during Operation Argos enhanced effectiveness, cooperation and helped build relationships with like-minded partners. "HMAS Sydney is in the region as part of Operation Argos to enforce United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea,” Commander Coleman said. “It's good to be working with the German Navy and New Zealand Navy again after our recent interactions during RIMPAC and other cooperative activities.   “It's another valuable opportunity to demonstrate to ourselves and others how our respective navies can easily integrate when working in a common framework.” Image courtesy of Defence.

ROHDE & SCHWARZ Australia will deliver integrated communication and control systems into the first batch of three Hunter class frigates, the Australian variant of the BAE Systems-designed and built Global Combat Ship. NAVICS will be the central nervous system of the Hunter frigate’s communications system, providing integrated and reliable internal and external communications and the processing classified information, within a multi-level security environment. Rohde & Schwarz has operated in Australia for more than 40 years, establishing a sovereign integrated communications system (ICS) and service delivery capability in Australia. This has been further enhanced through technology and knowledge transfer from its parent company in Germany. Rohde & Schwarz Australia’s workforce has already doubled to deliver on engineering services for the design and manufacture of the ICS and will continue to grow with support of the Hunter program. The company will work closely with BAE Systems Maritime Australia (BAESMA) to maximize opportunities for Australian industry to assist in the manufacture, integration, testing, and commissioning of the ICS. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/g_mg_Gxs