At South Australia’s Osborne Naval Shipyard, Prototype Blocks 10 and 16 are an ongoing testbed being used to trial and validate a range of outfitting work.
This work focuses on the finer, intricate details of ship fitout and is providing valuable insights for the future Hunters being built.
For this prototyping stage on Blocks 10 and 16, the Hunter Class Frigate Program teams completed a variety of compartment arrangements, including a cabin accommodation space, shower amenities, provision store and technical gallery.
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Overseeing this work, Forward Area Manager Helen said that while prototyping can be challenging, it’s providing the program with the ability to test and refine the functionality, tools, performance and workforce during each phase of the build process.
“Building warships is highly involved and complex and outfitting them is one of the last steps in the process,” Helen said.
“This includes things like installing non-structural equipment; Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC); electrical and pipe routed systems, outfit of accommodation spaces and painting.
These systems will span the entire length of a 150-metre-long completed Hunter class frigate and will need to operate under adverse sea conditions.
Precision is crucial and that’s why prototyping goes to such a fine level of detail installing crew bunks, showers and more.HelenForward Area Manager, Hunter Class Frigate Program
The Hunter Class Frigate Program is delivering a world-class anti-submarine warfare capability for the Royal Australian Navy. The first of class, NUSHIP Hunter, is being built and the second ship, NUSHIP Flinders, is close to starting fabrication.