Shipbuilder ASC says its major service of submarine HMAS Farncomb will cost 30 per cent less then expected and will take two years rather than three.
HMAS Farncomb, the first Collins sub to start what's called full cycle docking under revised procedures, has been in maintenance in Adelaide since May 2014.
"Whilst there is still more work to be done before HMAS Farncomb will return to service, ASC is confident of completing this activity on schedule," its interim chief executive Stuart Whiley said in a statement.
Farncomb was rolled out of the ASC submarine maintenance shed on Friday after extensive work.
She will spend another month on the hardstand for mast installation, ballast tank testing and calibration of fuel tanks, then a further fifteen weeks on sea trials.
The work should be finished by mid-2016.
The Coles review found the poor maintenance performance resulted in low submarine availability and shortfalls in trained personnel. Under the new maintenance regime, the navy is aiming for 10 years service for each sub, followed by two years of intensive maintenance.
Mr Whiley said that was much more than an oil change and a tuneup.
In the shed, submarines are cut open and their engines removed, refurbished and tested. ASC has invested substantially in improving facilities and its workforce.
That's resulted in a 30 per cent productivity improvement and an expected 12-month time saving.
Chris Burns, spokesman for the Australian Made Defence campaign said the Australian defence industry was once again demonstrating its expertise, which could be used to build and maintain next generation submarines.
"Todays submarine rollout demonstrates that when local industry is given a chance to perform, it invests on itself to implement procedural and technical advances that make all the difference," he said in a statement.
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