HMAS Arafura has been welcomed into the Royal Australian Navy fleet at a commissioning ceremony in Western Australia this past weekend. HMAS Arafura is the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the Navy’s surface fleet. Navy’s OPVs will help patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border alongside the evolved Cape class patrol boats. They will also play a role in humanitarian and disaster relief, enhance regional engagement and support other Navy missions. These new capabilities have a greater range of 4,000 nautical miles, and can perform roles that previously required numerous vessels. They also have improved living quarters and amenities to better support personnel.

HMAS Arafura commissioning ceremony (Image: Defence)

The Government’s Independent Analysis into Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet (Surface Fleet Review) reaffirmed the need for the Arafura class OPVs whilst recommending they operate alongside the evolved Cape class patrol boats. HMAS Arafura was built by German shipbuilder Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia. The second OPV, NUSHIP Eyre, has been built and is awaiting acceptance by Navy. The remainder of the four ships are under construction at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia.