Defence

Navy

Submarine training goes under new contract

By Commander Stu Wheeler, Training Authority - Submarine

Side story: The 'silent service' |

ASC's Chief Operating Officer, Doug Callow and Navy's then DGNPT Matt Tripovich sign the 5 year submarine training contract.

A five-year contract worth more than $20 million has been signed with Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) Pty Ltd to provide training for Navy's submarine personnel.

The previous training contract, also held by ASC, ran for six and a half years.

The contract was signed on 24 June 2005 at the Submarine Training and Systems Centre, HMAS STIRLING, Garden Island, Western Australia, by the former Director General Navy Personnel Training, Commodore (CDRE) Matt Tripovich and Mr Doug Callow, Chief Operating Officer - Submarines at ASC. (CDRE Tripovich was subsequently promoted to Rear Admiral and the position of Head, Capability Systems Division on 4 July 2005).

A gathering of ASC staff, members of the Submarine Force Element Group (SMFEG), the SMFEG Commander, CDRE Rick Shalders and the Project Manager for the Training Authority - Submarines Contract, CMDR John Renwick, witnessed the signing ceremony.

"The relationship between ASC and the Navy has been positive and productive, with both parties looking forward to building on this throughout the duration of the contract. This cooperative spirit has been reflected in the new contract, which is focused on providing core services for submarine training," says CDRE Matt Tripovich.

Mr Callow was equally happy with the way the Navy staff and ASC have worked during the negotiation of the contract.

"ASC prides itself on its ability to work closely with our customers to ensure that submarine crews have the necessary skills and knowledge to operate the submarines at peak performance," he said.

"Submariners work in a silent world, of darkness and potential danger, and the training we provide must prepare them for every eventuality. For over 10 years, submarine training has been a great success story for ASC and is regarded as a premier part of our business." In closing the ceremony, the submarine Force Element Group Commander, CDRE Rick Shalders, praised the level of training provided by ASC, to date, to the Royal Australian Navy.

"The training provided by ASC has been first-class and is a testament to their commitment and professionalism. There is no doubt the technology and state-of-the-art training equipment and simulators here in the submarine school at Fleet Base-West is on a world scale. It is pleasing to say that ASC has made an enduring and value-adding contribution to this."

The five-year contract, effective from 1 July 2005, provides a number of submarine training services. These range from face-to-face instruction, training development and technology, administration and submarine command team training.

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