Babcock Australasia (Babcock) supply chain partner Franmarine is among the first Australian SMEs to provide in-country maintenance support to a visiting Royal Navy Astute-class submarine.
Franmarine contributed to the historic Submarine Maintenance Period on HMS Anson at HMAS Stirling in February, alongside nearly a dozen other Western Australia-based suppliers, signalling the beginning of rolling AUKUS sustainment work in the West.
During the visit, the Henderson‑based marine and underwater service provider carried out targeted spot cleaning on the hull of the Royal Navy nuclear-powered submarine, deploying its advanced biofouling‑management technology as part of the maintenance work.
Franmarine was engaged through Seatec, the Royal Navy’s primary contractor for global underwater engineering, after being introduced into the UK system through Babcock’s Global Supply Chain Program, which creates export pathways for Australian industry.
Babcock – responsible for sustainment of the Royal Navy’s entire UK submarine fleet – has been a proud supporter of Franmarine’s technical development, facilitating proof‑of‑concept demonstrations of its closed‑loop in‑water cleaning system at Devonport, in conjunction with Shearwater.
Franmarine’s growing international engagement, including its support to the United States and Royal New Zealand navies, also coincides with a recent visit to its Henderson facility by the Royal Navy’s Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Paul Beattie CBE MSc, and Director Submarines Andy Perks.
Franmarine has been a trusted partner of Babcock since 2018, providing underwater engineering, diving services and biofouling management across the Warship Asset Management Agreement, Regional Maintenance Provider – West and other programs, underpinning the Continuous at Sea Deterrent.
Babcock Australasia Acting CEO Leah Grantham said: “Through the Australian Government’s Global Supply Chain Program, Babcock is actively creating real pathways for local suppliers to enter international markets. With teams based in Australia and the UK, we provide continual advocacy at a global level and match Australian capability to the needs of our Marine, Aviation, Mission Systems, Nuclear and Land programs across more than 10 countries.”
“Our strategic partnership with Franmarine shows what this looks like in practice. By combining their innovative underwater technologies with Babcock’s proven naval sustainment expertise, we are delivering critical capability for allied fleets while strengthening industrial depth and readiness. This is exactly the type of collaboration that enhances operational performance, protects maritime assets and showcases the world‑class capability Australia brings to the AUKUS enterprise.”
Babcock Global Supply Chain Manager Kellie Jenkins said: “The recent Submarine Maintenance Period highlights the depth of Australian capability now emerging, capabilities that will become essential to supporting Submarine Rotational Force-West sustainment and broader SSN-AUKUS objectives.”
“Franmarine’s technology is a powerful example of the local innovation our Global Supply Chain Program aims to elevate, solutions that can scale across international fleets.”
Franmarine CEO Adam Falconer-West said: “Australia’s stringent in-water cleaning standards have driven Franmarine to develop world-leading biofouling management, and underwater sustainment capability in lieu of dry docking. The Global Supply Chain Program represents an effective means of validating this within an international defence market context, delivering better outcomes for customers.”