First Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel delivered

Defence has accepted the first Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel, NUSHIP Arafura, for further test and evaluation ahead of delivery to the Royal Australian Navy.

NUSHIP Arafura is the first of class vessel delivered under project SEA 1180, built by Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia.

This project will deliver six Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessels to Navy, with the first two constructed at Osborne. The remaining four vessels are under construction at Henderson in Western Australia.

The Arafura class vessels will be part of a wider Navy Minor War Vessel Fleet supporting civil maritime security and enhanced regional engagement in the Southwest Pacific and maritime Southeast Asia.

Deputy Secretary Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Jim McDowell said the delivery of the first Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel was an important milestone in the Australian Government’s investment in Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment.

“The delivery of the first of class vessel to Defence highlights Defence’s commitment to working through complex projects to deliver critical capability to our Australian Defence Force, built here in Australia,” Mr McDowell said.

NUSHIP Arafura will now sail to its homeport at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia, before commissioning into the Royal Australian Navy fleet later this year.

Media note

Media can access imagery/vision at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20250128