Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull confirmed Adelaide will be home to the construction of 12 offshore vessels for the navy to begin in 2018.

Mr Turnbull confirmed the build, along with 21 Pacific patrol boats and the nine future frigates previously announced, will be built in South Australia, will directly secure jobs for decades to come.

Construction will shift to Western Australia in 2020 when the future frigate construction begins in the South Australian capital.

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The patrol boats will replace the smaller Armidale-class vessels which were built in WA.

Mr Turnbull said three designers had been shortlisted for the offshore patrol vessels, one from the Netherlands and two from Germany.

“This program is estimated to be worth more than $3 billion and will create over 400 direct jobs,” he said.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott announced in August last year that work on the next fleet of offshore patrol vessels would be “centred on SA”.

Mr Turnbull also confirmed that three designers had been shortlisted for the construction of the future frigates, which will also be built in Adelaide.

“This program is estimated to be worth more than $35 billion and will directly create over 2000 jobs,” he said.

More to come.

– with ABC