One of the German companies bidding to design the Navy's new fleet of 12 offshore patrol boats isn't fazed the project will be built in both Adelaide and Perth.
That's because Lurssen is used to sharing contracts between multiple shipyards in Germany.
The federal government has stipulated the boats will be initially built in Adelaide from 2018.
This aimed to help avoid the so-called "valley of death", when expertise and jobs are lost in the periods between major projects.
The work then will go to WA in 2020, when construction begins in Adelaide on the navy's new frigates.
Lurssen is up against fellow German company Fassmer and Dutch firm Damen to design the ships.
Both Lurssen and Damen have selected a joint partnership of Adelaide-based shipbuilder ASC and Perth-based engineering company Forgacs/Civmec as preferred builders should either win.
Fassmer will team up with Austal in WA.
It's understood some staff from both ASC and Forgacs/Civmec would have secondments to Perth and Adelaide respectively in order to share knowledge.
The new vessels will replace the existing Armidale Class patrol boats.
The government is expected to announce the winning bid for the $3 billion project by year's end.
Lurssen, a family-run company that has been around since 1875 and builds mega yachts, is keen to set up a presence in Australia in order to pursue defence export opportunities across the Asia Pacific region.
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