Local workers will build Future Subs, Naval Group boss says

Naval Group’s chief is confident that the workforce to build the submarines can be found in South Australia, although 4000 people will be needed this decade.

South Australia will not need to bring in large numbers of skilled migrants to build the $89bn Future Submarines, the French company designing Australia’s new submarine fleet says.

Naval Group’s global chief executive Pierre Eric Pommellet said he was “totally confident” the workforce could be trained in Australia.

More than 4000 people will be needed to work on the Future Submarines and the $45bn Future Frigates by 2030, according to workforce estimates.

Mr Pommellet said the two mega projects, being built simultaneously at the Osborne shipyard, would be a drawcard for workers.

“We will need, of course, skills,” Mr Pommellet said.

“I’m totally confident that the skills will be available in South Australia, and in Australia.”

He added thousands more workers, from around the nation, would be needed as part of the supply chain.

Mr Pommellet also dismissed fears major parts of the submarines would be built overseas, given BAE Systems would use companies in its British supply chain for major systems on the first three Hunter-class warships.

BAE has said Australian companies will be progressively able to build more of the ships’ key systems in later warships, but it says some key ship systems and equipment are not currently designed in Australia.

Mr Pommellet said: “The submarines will be built here. This will be the best submarine shipyard in the world.”

The Osborne shipyard under construction. Purple – Phase 1 works. Red: The building where Lockheed Martin will construct the combat system. Yellow: The Land Based Test Facility. Blue – The main production halls, where work is underway to build the foundations. Green – Future site of the Main Assembly Hall, where the submarines will be assembled. The large hall behind the green square is the Osborn South Shipyard and site of the Hunter Class Frigates and Offshore Patrol Vessels. To the left of the green square is the ASC maintenance yard for the Collins Class subs.

BAE’s Hunter project and ASC’s Collins-class work being at the same shipyard would only help source the workforce, he said.

“These ecosystems will enrich one from another,” he said. “Being close (to) ASC, we know that they will train our people.

“We have common programs for apprentices or welders.

“I was with BAE Systems yesterday. What is happening here is fantastic.”

Naval Group released its first $900m package of contracts for the Future Submarines to Australian companies late last year, but there would be more coming, Mr Pommellet said.

“The building of the submarines will be for 30 years,” he said.

“We just at the beginning.

“We feel, as a company, an incredible willingness to develop sovereignty and incredible support of the local authority and federal authority to develop sovereignty.”

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham with Naval Group global chief executive Pierre Eric Pommellet at the Osborne shipyard. Picture: Mike Burton

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said he was pleased Mr Pommellet had met with Australian government shipbuilder ASC during his time in Australia.

“In doing so, that can only further help the establishment of the sovereign skills, the knowledge sharing, that has always been about the long-term mission of our shipbuilding programs,” Mr Birmingham said.

Mr Pommellet has met with several government ministers during his time in Australia, including Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price.