The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has moved to offer $80,000 bonuses for ship’s engineers on its submarines and Anzac-class frigates in an attempt to stop them from moving to the mining industry.

 

The move, which the navy concedes may cause tension in the ranks, will see some non-commissioned engineers receive pay packages of up to $177,000 a year, almost as much as senior submarine commanders.

 

The navy has promised a pay package of between $40,000 and $80,000 to 200 key skilled engineers in return for two years of service. The move has been made in response to the threat posed by the booming resources’ sector’s massive increase in demande for qualified engineers.