LONDON: Lloyd’s Register (LR) has secured a contract worth A$11m ($7.2m) from Austal Defence Australia (ADA) to provide naval classification services for the Australian Army’s Landing Craft Medium (LCM) platform.
The agreement will see LR provide classification services throughout the LCM build program, supporting vessel quality, compliance and assurance from construction through to delivery.
The over A$1.029 billion Design and Build Tasking Statement for 18 LCM vessels is being delivered by ADA under the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) and represents a major investment in sovereign shipbuilding and defence capability.
LR personnel will be embedded at the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia for the duration of the program.
LR will work alongside ADA to verify that construction activities and quality processes meet agreed standards throughout the vessel build program.
The award further strengthens LR’s position within Australia’s growing naval shipbuilding sector, following recent involvement in major defence program including the Hunter Class Frigate program and other new-build and sustainment projects across the region.
Steve McDowall, Director Naval Business Australasia at Lloyd’s Register, said: “Australia is making a significant long-term investment in sovereign continuous Naval shipbuilding capability, and platforms such as the Landing Craft Medium are critical to that ambition.
“We are proud to support Austal the Australian Department of Defence and the Australian Army by providing independent classification and assurance throughout the build programme, helping ensure these vessels are delivered safely, efficiently and to the highest standards.
“This agreement builds on a long-standing relationship between LR and Austal and reflects the confidence both industry and defence organisations place in independent assurance as they deliver increasingly complex maritime programs.
David Lloyd, Vice President Naval and Government Business at Lloyds Register, said: “Lloyds Register is proud to partner with ADA and Defence Australia on this extremely important Landing Craft Medium build program for the Australian Army. We are committed to bringing our wide-ranging Naval capabilities to assist in ensuring its success and further supporting the Australian continuous Naval shipbuilding program.
Gavin Stewart, Executive General Manager Austal Defence Australia, said: “We welcome the continuation of our long-standing relationship with Lloyd’s Register on this important program. Independent classification provides valuable assurance throughout the construction process and supports our commitment to delivering the highest quality capability for the Australian Army.”
About Lloyd’s Register
Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.
Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the defence, marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.
We also provide advisory services and digital solutions, supporting fleet and voyage performance and optimisation. Through OneOcean, LR delivers integrated digital solutions supporting voyage planning, optimisation, compliance, training and fleet performance across more than 30,000 vessels globally.
In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.
Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.
About Austal:
Austal is Australia’s global shipbuilder and defence prime contractor designing, constructing and sustaining some of the world’s most advanced commercial and defence vessels. In August 2025 the Australian Government appointed Austal Defence Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Austal Ltd, as its Strategic Shipbuilder for the construction of key Defence vessels in Western Australia.
For almost 40 years Austal has contracted more than 360 vessels for over 122 commercial and defence operators in 59 countries, worldwide.
Austal is Australia’s largest defence exporter and first ASX-listed shipbuilder. Austal has industry-leading shipyards in Australia, the United States of America, the Philippines and Vietnam, with service centres worldwide.
Austal manufactures and delivers large, complex vessels to the United States Department of Defense, United States Coast Guard, Australian Department of Defence and Australian Department of Home Affairs and other defence and border force agencies around the world.
Having designed, manufactured and delivered iconic monohull, catamaran and trimaran commercial vessel platforms – including the world’s largest trimaran ferry and multiple defence programs such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) for the United States Navy, Austal’s capability has expanded to include the delivery of Offshore Patrol Cutters for the United States Coast Guard, nuclear submarine modules for US Virginia and Columbia class submarines, auxiliary vessels for the United States Navy and landing craft and patrol boats for the Australian Department of Defence.
