15 October 2024
Participants were given the chance to survey the sheer size and scope of a Hunter-class frigate’s construction from the top of a scaffolding during a tour of the Osborne Naval Shipyard, in late September.
The tour gave a close-up look at progress on the project to deliver the next generation of naval surface combatants.
Stakeholders of the SEA5000-1 Project were given a 3D virtual walk-through of the Hunter-class frigates during an Integrated Project Team Working Group (IPTWG).
The event gathered stakeholders from across the Hunter Team, including project members, future surface combatants, BAE Systems Maritime Australia, Naval Construction Branch, Fundamental Inputs to Capability (FIC) representatives and Cross-FIC representatives.
Project Director Captain Leigh Benning said the immersive experience allowed valuable face-to-face collaboration between the stakeholders and enhanced communication for the Navy project.
Participants toured the Visualisation Suite (VisSuite), an interactive 3D model allowing users to explore the ship’s design in first-person and bird's-eye view mode.
The VisSuite, which enables the engineers to review and refine the ship's design before construction begins, gave the group a deeper understanding of the structure and overall design of the platform.
The shipyard tour also helped to contextualise the design-to-construction process.
During the tour, participants saw 20 of the 78 units of Ship 1 in construction. They scaled the scaffolding to the top of the combined Type 26 prototype blocks to take in the size and scope of the construction.
Captain Benning said the group was particularly impressed by a structural piece designed to house a state-of-the-art acoustically engineered gearbox and by the precision of computer-operated welders, which work within a four-degree margin of accuracy.
Apart from the chance to see the progress in construction, the tour was a chance for those who had not been to the shipyard to appreciate its size and complexity.
“The IPTWG continues to play a crucial role in fostering discussions around the complexities of SEA5000-1, while also addressing cost, schedule and risk management,” Captain Benning said.
As Ship 1 of the Hunter Class frigates prepares to enter service in the early 2030s, attention is already turning toward recruitment. The Navy requires a highly skilled and capable crew for the first-of-class vessel, with initial training expected to commence in 2029.
