DMS Maritime selected as preferred tenderer for the Commonwealth's Pacific Patrol Boat Progam

DMS Support for Pacific Island Neighbours

DMS Maritime Pty Ltd, Australia’s leading maritime services provider, has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the Commonwealth’s Pacific Patrol Boats Program.

The program provides participating Pacific Island Countries with patrol boats to police their marine territories. DMS will provide five years, with options to extend for a further 12 years, of technical, engineering and logistic support services for the 19 patrol boats and refits for nine of those vessels.

Under the Australian Defence Cooperation funded program, each Pacific Island Country is responsible for its patrol boats’ general maintenance. The Australian Defence Force provides maritime surveillance advice and in-country technical advisors. DMS Maritime will assume responsibility for the vessels’ complex design, upgrading, the majority of deep level maintenance and procurement needs.

“We’re extremely pleased to have the opportunity to support this significant Commonwealth program,” said Greg Hodge, DMS Maritime’s CEO. “Our technical and logistics support will extend the vessels’ operational lives while ensuring that personnel from participating country have the opportunity to develop, maintain and enhance their project management and engineering skills. Our work will contribute lasting benefits to neighbouring island nations.”

DMS Board Chairman, John Lord said that the Pacific Patrol Boats Program is of great significance to the region’s development. “The high levels of vessel operability and local skills enhancement skills that DMS provides will contribute to the island nations’ ability to effectively monitor and enforce their 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zones,” he said.

Since 1997, DMS Maritime has been delivering comprehensive maritime services to the Royal Australian Navy. Australia’s largest Defence and commercial support contractor, DMS provides the in-service support for Australia’s own Armidale Class Patrol Boats, and for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Services’ patrol boats. Recently, DMS won a competitive tender to continue to provide the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Marine Services until 2020.

“A team of our dedicated specialists, located in Cairns, will provide the Pacific Patrol Boats’ maintenance, logistics and refits,” added Mr Hodge. “The Defence Material Organisation and participating Pacific nations can be confident of DMS’ commitment to helping the island countries’ continue to build technical self reliance and maintain a credible maritime surveillance capability.”

ENDS

01 October 2010