A $4 billion defence contract has been awarded to WA-based company Austell to build eight heavy transport vessels in Henderson, creating 3,000 local jobs. The 100-metre-long vessels will each carry more than 500 tonnes of military equipment, with construction beginning later this year and the final vessel due by 2038. Combined with a separate contract for 18 smaller vessels signed last year, the total fleet will reach 26 ships.

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Billion-dollar shipbuilding contract secures thousands of WA jobs

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