Australian Navy Shafted by Spanish Shipbuilder

Australia’s Chief of Navy says he is disappointed that a supply boat—aptly named HMAS Supply—was delivered with significant defects that prevented it from being used for an extended period. “I am not satisfied with the availability of this ship,” Vice Admiral Mark Hammond told a parliamentary hearing on June 6. “There are defects in the design and delivery of the ship, the ship remains under repair.” The only viable option the Navy had was to work on repairing the vessel, aided by the shipbuilder, Spanish firm Navantia, who the Vice Admiral said “are not shirking any responsibility for paying for this.”...