Liferaft Systems Australia (LSA) has secured contracts worth approximately AUD$6.4 million to supply its Marine Evacuation Systems (MES) for five new vessels currently under construction for the UK Ministry of Defence.
Managing Director Mike Grainger said the contract with BAE Systems UK was to supply four MES for each of the second batch of five Type 26 Frigates. This contract is in addition to a contract signed in 2017 for the first three Type 26 Frigates currently under construction at BAE Systems UK in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Each system comprises an inflatable evacuation slide connected to a 115-person inflatable liferaft.”
Mr Grainger said LSA, which will celebrate 32 years of continual operation in September, was set to increase its workforce as production increased.
“LSA currently employs 70 FTEs, with this number set to increase to approximately 75 FTEs in the coming months,” he said.
“Our order book which is made up of commercial and defence contracts is currently the largest we have had since company inception. It is clearly a very good position for our locally owned and Tasmanian operated business, with orders contracted for delivery out to 2032.
“All design and manufacturing work is undertaken in Hobart at our Derwent Park facility with defence contracts providing approximately 30% of our total work.”
LSA has previously worked with BAE Systems on the supply of MES for two Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers for the Royal Navy.
The LSA Marine Evacuation Systems to be installed on the Type 26 Frigates can be deployed to evacuate 115 people from each MES station in less than three minutes.