Hunter Class program apprentices secure manufacturing qualifications

A cohort of the prime’s junior employees has graduated to the next stage of their apprenticeships.

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BAE Systems Australia has revealed five of the Hunter Class frigate program’s apprentices have secured structured welding qualifications, advancing to the next phase of a five-year course.

As such, the cohort will no longer work in the training bays but will work on prototype blocks alongside the production workforce.

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To secure the qualification, the apprentices completed welding tasks under the supervision of a Lloyd’s Register representative.

An independent reviewer then assessed the welds, which had to pass visual and mechanical tests.

“For first year apprentices to be doing advanced welding to such a high standard is an incredible achievement,” apprentice trainer John Watson said.

“They needed to perform four different welds to achieve this qualification: vertical and overhead welds, with two different types of wire.

“They’ve graduated from the training environment into working teams under supervision. I’m incredibly proud – it’s a massive achievement.”

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A further 12 apprentices are expected to graduate to the next stage of their apprenticeships by the end of the year.

There are currently 34 apprentices on the Hunter program, 23 graduates and 10 interns.

They are among a Hunter Class workforce totalling approximately almost 1,500 people.

In February, the company completed a System Definition Review (SDR), aimed at establishing a baseline design for the next-generation fleet and informing the construction process at South Australia’s Osborne Naval Shipyard.

The SDR, which was undertaken by engineering teams in both Australia and the UK, is the second major evaluation of the ship’s design since BAE Systems secured the $45 billion SEA 5000 contract.

The review assessed the feasibility of a range of capabilities required by the Commonwealth government, including the Aegis and Australian Interface Combat Management Systems, the CEAFAR2 phased array radar and integration of the Seahawk Romeo Maritime Combat Helicopter.