Adding value to Australia’s

submarine programme
Australia has taken a major step in stating its intent to acquire nuclear powered
submarines. The AUKUS programme is the largest single defence programme that
Australia has undertaken, and the submarine fleet will require new and repurposed
facilities to enable its build, operation and maintenance. Building fit for purpose naval
nuclear facilities is no small task and a hugely complex undertaking – at Atkins,
we have the expertise and experience to help.
Designing a fit for purpose infrastructure
Designing nuclear infrastructure is a challenging and complex process. Infrastructure is required across
a range of different areas, including submarine construction, operation, and maintenance. As a long-
lead item, the infrastructure development programme of work will need to start well in advance of
submarine construction – potentially before the submarine design has been finalised or the full nuclear
regulatory system is in place.
The infrastructure will need to be delivered to meet constraints of time and cost, against an evolving
backdrop of submarine platform requirements, nuclear safety regulations and standards. Programme
and project management expertise will need to sit alongside the nuclear safety context, ensuring
all the different elements of the design are considered at the right time, and that the right skills
and experience are used to make timely decisions to support a successful outcome.

Experience that delivers success

From developing early concepts, to selecting the site options available for nuclear naval facilities, being
able to draw on the necessary expertise and experience will be critical for Australia, to ensure AUKUS
can succeed in its intended vision. Without the correct infrastructure in place, Australia’s nuclear
submarine fleet will not be able to deliver on its intended mission.
Experience when it comes to building a nuclear naval base cannot be understated. It is not just about
what needs to be done, but also about drawing on learning from previous builds. Large programmes
are never without mistakes, and ensuring that every step goes down the right track, avoiding pitfalls
experienced previously, will be a key part of making AUKUS a success.
How can Atkins help?
Atkins (a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group) holds a unique position as a market leader in defence
nuclear infrastructure, with civil and defence nuclear expertise and experience in delivering large
construction programmes.
With a global footprint that includes the UK, US and Australia, Atkins has designed nuclear submarine
builds, operating and maintenance facilities to exacting nuclear safety standards: from docks, cradles
and mechanical handling equipment, to mechanical and electrical services and civil structures for
operating sites within the UK defence nuclear programme. Our US business, Atkins Nuclear Secured
(ANS), includes staff with extensive US Naval Nuclear and civil operating experience, and many
years’ experience of design and development of nuclear facilities. Atkins Nuclear Secured Holdings
Corporation, a business unit within SNC-Lavalin’s global nuclear sector focused on the US federal
market, has strengths in nuclear operations, process design engineering, waste management,
characterisation, transportation, disposition and high-level waste technologies.
Our programme and project management
experience within the highly regulated
civil nuclear sector includes working
on the Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power
Station in the UK. We have provided
project controls services comprising senior
leadership, planning, risk and estimating
experts, to support the engineering and
construction programme delivering a new
generation nuclear power station capable
of generating 3,620MW, as part of the UK
Nuclear New Build programme (NNB).
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In the conventional civil sector Atkins has under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

over 50 years’ experience of delivering

maritime solutions. Our in-house capabilities and partnering arrangements are sufficient to enable
us to rapidly assemble a multidisciplinary team that can provide a single point of delivery of multiple
services – from a market study, through to design, construction and operational support for maritime
projects. With specialities including design, pre-FEED and FEED studies, cost and value engineering,
dredging and reclamation, breakwaters and coastal defences, and marine offloading facilities we have
experience of delivering projects across the world, including Hambantota Port development, Port of
Miami, London Gateway and Singapore LNG terminal.
And with a dedicated Building Information Modelling (BIM) team, Atkins is at the forefront of the
development of digital solutions for naval nuclear projects. We have experts with experience of
developing a best practice BIM strategy that is in accordance with the ISO19650 series of standards
and the UK government’s BIM and construction strategy, encompassing security and smart asset
management standards.

Get in touch
Bringing diverse expertise and experience across To find out more:
the nuclear, submarine and infrastructure sectors,
we can offer support to the AUKUS programme
CONTACT US
as it faces its complex challenges.