Royal Australian Navy’s first Arafura-class patrol vessel hits the water

The first of 12 Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) slated for the Royal Australian Navy was launched into the water at the facilities of Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia on Thursday, December 16.

The future HMAS Arafura is one of two ships in the class that will be built at Osborne. The remaining 10 OPVs will be constructed at Henderson Maritime Precinct in Western Australia.

All 12 Arafura-class OPVs are being built in fulfilment of a contract awarded to Luerssen Australia. The 80-metre vessels will primarily undertake constabulary missions and maritime patrol and response duties.