No the story was printed in the Advertiser but the sources are the highly regarded professionals listed in it. Basically the majority of experts, even overseas ones are coming out in favour of a local build, even the Japanese are now being said to be considering it, hardly surprising considering the normalisation of the exchange rate to historic levels.And the source of this "news" is "The Advertiser", a newspaper from SA........
Winter is not involved with any of the bids, he the bloke who was brought in to conduct an independent review. Same thing happened when Coles was brought in from the UK to look at submarine maintenance, it was expected that he would cane ASC and blame them for all the problems, what happened instead was he found that the issue was the contractual structure and cost cutting. Basically attempts to reduce upfront costs were causing more expensive and time consuming problems latter on, i.e. not upgrading the diesels resulted in very expensive failures later on, not having a rotable parts pools increased the cost and time taken to complete a Full Cycle Docking.If I was the CEO of a major shipbuilding company, and bidding for a contract of several billion bucks, I would say whatever it took to secure a contract. Monitring the news etc, public opinion etc. I would sell my company the best way possible, yes we can build them in Australia, it would be good for us both, create jobs, an industry blah blah blah and do as I planned anyway.
What Ive seen from big industry is penalties applied by a government watchdog when schedules are not met.
To avoid these penalties, companies just get the job done, knowing its substandard work, with the plan to fix it later.
The watch dog, who is on a very good deal, then hangs around for as long as possible nit picking the project in order to prolong his job (his being his team) and deleying the project further.
End result is a product that looks ok, but has mainly minor problems everywhere, that will continue for the life of the end product.
In the mean time, some of the sub contractors disolve their companies and cant be recalled to fix their problems. So they raise another company to fix the problem and the disfunction continues....
So correct me if I'm wrong. A South Australian Government committee hearing.More sub news....
Future Submarines: Japan no longer frontrunners over Germany and France
July 21, 2015 7:29pm
TORY SHEPHERDThe Advertiser
IT received the “red carpet” treatment, but Japan is no longer walking ahead of Germany and France in the bid to build the $50 billion Future Submarines.
‘Option J’, as it became known, was seen to be a frontrunner for the lucrative project, but several Government MPs have said that is no longer seen as politically palatable because even after the competitive evaluation process, it would appear to be another “captain’s pick” from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Mr Abbott and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are believed to have made a “handshake deal” on the submarines, but political uproar led to the Government announcing the CEP so the three nations could compete to be the international partner.
Both Germany and France have been openly pushing their own bids in recent weeks, while Japan has remained almost silent.
Japanese representatives have also declined to put in an appearance at a shipbuilding inquiry, which will hear from shipbuilders ASC, four senior Defence representatives, Germany, and France on Wednesday in Glenelg.
The Advertiser has revealed that both Germany and France are keen to build the submarines in Adelaide. Both are also prepared to throw in sweeteners. France will share all its stealth technology with Australia, while the Wall Street Journal has revealed Germany could make Australia a regional hub, bringing in more maintenance work from Asia. Both are also interested in working on the Future Frigates.
Defence Minister Kevin Andrews said the CEP would pick the best submarine and that any commentary was “uninformed speculation”.
Opposition defence spokesman Stephen Conroy said Japan was getting the “red carpet” treatment both in their visits to ASC (with a government entourage) and in the visits from Australian officials overseas, and that it was “very disappointing” no one would front the committee.
“The secrecy that surrounds Japan’s bid and involvement in this process is remarkable. We want to get to the bottom of that,” he said.
Senator Conroy said the special treatment was because it was a government-to-government deal with Japan, while the other bids are from corporations – TKMS in Germany and DCNS in France.
The Ambassador of Japan to Australia, Sumio Kusaka, said Japan’s situation was different and he was “not in a position to be able to offer any further specific details on that process at this time”.
It would not be appropriate to attend, he said. Neither Mitsubishi Heavy Industries or Kawasaki, who would do the work, will attend either.
Mr Andrews called on Labor to give up their “xenophobic campaign” and “present a united voice promoting Australia as a great place to do business and to promote our skilled shipbuilding workforce in a positive manner”.
No Cookies | Perth Now
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Future Submarines: Cheaper to build subs in Adelaide, Germans say
THE German company bidding on the nation’s new fleet of submarines has given the state a ray of hope saying Australia is the cheapest and best option to build.
- BELINDA WILLIS and LUKE GRIFFITHS
- The Advertiser
- July 22, 2015 10:20PM
Thyssen Krupp Marine System’s confidence in the state torpedoes previous claims that Australia couldn’t compete with an overseas build.
Yet TKMS Australia’s calls for a local build were marred by senior ASC executives warning the Economic References Committee in Adelaide that 266 jobs lost at the local shipyard in the past three months could be the tip of the iceberg.
TKMS Australia’s chairman John White said his German-headquartered company’s bid for the billion-dollar Future Submarine project was focused on a local build, adamant that this would save the country money.
Australian companies must be involved from the beginning, he said, and that “you ask for trouble if you build something overseas”.
“If Australia wants to have a long-term sustainable competitive world-class naval capability we need to look to build both future frigates and future submarines in this country,” he told the public hearing in Glenelg.
“If you truly analyse all aspects of the project we will have a lower cost to the government for a build in Australia……. With the most major savings in through-life support.”
And Sean Costello, chief executive of the Australian arm of French company DCNS, told the committee that the firm “absolutely has a plan to build the submarines in Australia”, however he would not be drawn on cost comparisons to an overseas build.
“I can’t give you a percentage differential,” he said after constant probing from Senator Nick Xenophon.
Mr Costello, previously chief of staff to former Defence Minister David Johnston who infamously said he wouldn’t trust ASC to build a canoe, added that DCNS has 100 people working on its submission.
Dr White was joint author of a major government study into the Air Warfare Destroyer program and involved in privatising Victoria’s Williamstown Naval Dockyard and the $5 billion ANZAC Frigate Project.
Senator Xenophon said Dr White was the nation’s most respected shipbuilder and it was “quite stunning” that he “has effectively torpedoed the government’s plans to build submarines overseas”.
“This absolute nonsense of the Prime Minster considering an overseas build must be put to an end,” Senator Xenophon said.
“When you have the nation’s most respected shipbuilder and a confidant of the government saying it would be cheaper for Australian taxpayers to ensure the subs are built locally, then how can the government ignore that?”
Dr White told the inquiry “a lack of confidence” creeping into Australia about its shipbuilding was unjustified and problems linked to the Air Warfare Destroyer and Collins Class submarines projects were about “decisions well beyond Australian industry”.
TKMS is one of three companies asked to bid for the project, it has built submarines in seven other countries and Dr White said it now had 190 people in Australia and Germany working on the Future Submarine bid.
While another bidder, DCNS appeared at the hearing, Japan, long regarded as the frontrunner, did not, declining its invitation to attend.
When ASC appeared, shipbuilding chief Mark Lamarre said that even if a decision was made “today” regarding the future submarine project, more job losses would come.
Mr Lamarre confirmed to the committee that 77 jobs were lost at ASC in May, 88 in June, and 101 in July.
“We will be making changes to the profile of our manning, further reductions, regardless of what near-term decisions are made by government on shipbuilding,” Mr Lamarre said.
“There will be further job losses due to the winding down of current projects.
“We will go to where we are today, 2000 people, to zero if there’s no further work, or we will not (go to zero) depending on the timing of future work — there’s lot of variables in the process.”
A spokesman for Defence Minister Kevin Andrews encouraged Dr White and Mr Costello to “not be distracted by the interference being run by the Labor Party”, referring to the committee.
Mr Andrews’ office also reiterated the point that Senator Sean Edwards, deputy committee chair, made several times throughout the day.
“For six years, the former government sat on their hands and did nothing to advance the future submarine program.”
No Cookies | dailytelegraph.com.au
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Well, it looks like we are going to have a robust debate as to why the subs shouldn't be built in Australia now that both the German and the French literally say that they will build them here. I think Japan will yield to the pressure too. It will be a win-win situation regardless of which options we go with.
If the Professionals advice is ignored then you can bet it will make the problems of the current Collins class look like a walk in the park and the politicians will lay the blame solely on the RAN who will be left to pick up the pieces.So correct me if I'm wrong. A South Australian Government committee hearing.
Again, correct me if I'm wrong. The SA Government does not set Australian defence policy.
As I see it, a meaningless committee hearing aimed at the local electorate. French and German officials are attending because they know they have to play to the local 6pm news and the local paper. Bells and whistles, smoke and mirrors and a lead story.
In the grand scheme of things, meaningless outside of Adelaide.
Let us hope the professionals are allowed to make a decision focused on the defence of Australia, and if it involves work for SA, so be it.
Again, as I see it, the local media should put some energy into asking questions about why the order book stayed closed for six years.
The professionals never make the decision, the government does, if we are lucky the decision is based on advice from relevant professionals.So correct me if I'm wrong. A South Australian Government committee hearing.
Again, correct me if I'm wrong. The SA Government does not set Australian defence policy.
As I see it, a meaningless committee hearing aimed at the local electorate. French and German officials are attending because they know they have to play to the local 6pm news and the local paper. Bells and whistles, smoke and mirrors and a lead story.
In the grand scheme of things, meaningless outside of Adelaide.
Let us hope the professionals are allowed to make a decision focused on the defence of Australia, and if it involves work for SA, so be it.
Again, as I see it, the local media should put some energy into asking questions about why the order book stayed closed for six years.
I really like the Meko A-400 proposed for Sea 5000. But I suspect it could be the most expensive proposal out of the 3 designs.Germany, France, UK may bid for frigate contract for Australia | afr.com
So the AWD hull is out, and it will be a war between MEKO 400, Type 26 and the French FEMM. Hang on, didn't we want the Italian version? How come it is now the French bidding for the contract?
Actually the MEKO system has consistently proven cheaper and less risky in domestic builds, it is ideal for block construction at multiple sites and the RAN has had a very positive experience with the MEKO 200 ANZ. The only issue I can honestly see with the ANZACs is what was specified turned out to be too small which made upgrading them more difficult and expensive, but then again when they were ordered it was assumed that they would only ever be a second tier EEZ and regional patrol vessel that would work in conjunction with a first tier FFG / DDG force of eight ships.I really like the Meko A-400 proposed for Sea 5000. But I suspect it could be the most expensive proposal out of the 3 designs.
As for the FEMM, I suspect DCNS is bidding for it because it already has an office in Australia and it sees Australia (together with Sea 1000) as a strategic area for their business to be involved in. As for the actual proposed design, it could be based on the Italian version with Australian specific components such as CEAFAR and Saab 9LV combat management system.
Definitely not, it just means that they will have to spend more on rebuilding capability once they eventually kick it off. The original plan was that as the AWD project wound down personnel would transition to the submarine project and from there to the replacement frigate program, delaying the sub decision and considering the possibility of moving it overseas means that option has gone.With a different hull to the AWD, does this now eliminate the possibility of a continous build?
I also suppose that means that Navantia F110 will not be considered for Sea 5000. Were they not looking at adopting CEAFAR as their primary sensor for F110?Definitely not, it just means that they will have to spend more on rebuilding capability once they eventually kick it off. The original plan was that as the AWD project wound down personnel would transition to the submarine project and from there to the replacement frigate program, delaying the sub decision and considering the possibility of moving it overseas means that option has gone.
If the article is accurate it appears not. Come to think of it we don't seem to build and maintain relationships with ship designers / builders these days.I also suppose that means that Navantia F110 will not be considered for Sea 5000. Where they are not looking at adopting CEAFAR as their primary sensor for F110?
I know a few people who would take issue with the "Japanese sub commanders" statement, well actually they would call BS as the welding experts on AWD have been assessed and certified by Lloyds, not just to do the work but also to train and certify the welders of subcontractors. Many of these senior people, welding engineers and supervisors cut their teeth on submarines and are acknowledged as among the best in the game, as too are the structural and materials engineers they work with. One thing ASC is unusually good at is welding, they even did a better job than the Swedes on Collins.In regard's to the Submarines, With the Japanese Soryu class a Japanese sub commander stated at some point that Australia would not be able to build them because the metal's would be to hard for us to produce and weld, If this is the case (I take it with a grain of salt) then would this not also prevent us from performing maintenance on the vessel's as it is common practice to cut them open to do the work, If we can't weld it then either our maintenance schedule is going to be worse then with the Collins class or we wont be able to maintain them at all..
Just has me stumped that if some think we cant build them yet think that we can cut them open and weld them back up no worries...
Very true, one of the things that indicated a problem with the copper pipe on AWD was it didn't weld the way it was meant to. Sure enough it was discovered, despite all the appropriate paperwork and certifications stating otherwise, that the pipe did not conform to spec and further investigation determined that the contractor had subcontracted the work to a Chinese mill that was literally incapable of producing conforming product.Thats actually very relevant vonnoobie, and a good point.
I worked for Halliburton quite a few years ago now, but when I was in Karratha, I remember talking to a guy who did maintanence work on the LNG pipeline. Its a very very long pipeline.
It was made by an Indian Company I believe, and the steel used was totally different to what aussie tradesmaen were used to.
It was what he described as "dirty steel" pretty low grade stuff, and he was telling me that it was very difficult to weld. Mainly because the steel he was using was a lot higher grade, and fairly incompatible with the original steel.
One of my old mates was the RSM of the Pilbera Regt while I was there, and they paid quite a bit of attention to the pipe line.....