Off-site pre-assembly at Australian Marine Complex (Henderson) delivers an agile, efficient and sustainable piling approach.
Duratec Ertech Joint Venture (DEJV), a 50:50 joint venture between Duratec and Ertech, is delivering innovative and efficient marine construction solutions as part of the $281 million infrastructure upgrade program at HMAS Stirling, supporting Australia’s future submarine capability.
Already well advanced on the Diamantina Wharf at Garden Island, Western Australia the joint venture has completed 70% of piling works and has recently commenced piling activities at two other sites on the Island.
A key innovation has been DEJV’s ability to undertake piling from the existing wharf structure rather than relying extensively on marine plant. This approach has significantly reduced impacts on ongoing naval base operations while improving construction efficiency in a highly constrained and sensitive environment.
To further enhance delivery, DEJV established a dedicated fabrication and pre-assembly yard at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) in Henderson. Major pile and fender components are assembled offsite before being transported by barge to Garden Island for installation. This strategy has minimised disruption within the operational Defence precinct, improved quality control as well as accelerated construction activities.
The components are spliced and welded together by Duratec subsidiary company, WPF, and are too long to be transported by road with safety, so an alternative solution was found. This approach demonstrates Duratec’s innovative approach to project management, said Duratec’s Defence State Lead for Western Australia and DEJV Project Director, Peter Shaw:
By fabricating the components at Henderson and barging the materials across the water, we are taking large vehicle loads off local roads and delivering the works more sustainably by lowering fuel emissions. Completing the works offsite means we are reducing the amount of work being completed in an environmentally sensitive area.
This approach underlines Duratec and Ertech’s joint commitment to environmental stewardship on Garden Island.
SRF-West is a major new capability underpinning the maintenance and sustainment of conventionally armed, nuclear powered submarine rotational force from the United States and the United Kingdom under the AUKUS partnership.
HMAS Stirling, and ultimately the Defence Precinct at Henderson, will maintain and sustain the Virginia Class (USA) and Astute Class (UK) submarines and new AUKUS Class (Australian) submarines to be designed and built in South Australia.
Duratec is delivering on a broad range of Defence-related infrastructure projects, with several underway on Garden Island as part of a broad suite of works across the entire Defence estate, active in 40+ locations nationally.
Chris Oates, Managing Director at Duratec, shared:
As a joint venture we are thinking creatively and working collaboratively with our client – the Department of Defence. We’re proud to support Australia’s future submarine capability, contributing to the timely and compliant delivery of these critical infrastructure upgrades at HMAS Stirling.
