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Babcock Australasia has expanded its servicing portfolio to include the Arafura Class offshore patrol vessels (OPV), following the successful completion of the first intermediate maintenance availability for NUSHIP Arafura, lead ship of the class.
A four-week intermediate maintenance availability (IMAV) was successfully completed on NUSHIP Arafura in early April, assisting in establishing the maintenance baseline for this new Commonwealth vessel.
Babcock’s staff and contracted repair agents dedicated over 4,000 working hours to the maintenance effort, delivering precise servicing of key ship systems along with multiple ancillary craft on board the OPV, including rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) and rapid intercept craft (RIC).
The schedule was conducted in parallel with ongoing work by Luerssen Australia, which has ensured the successful achievement of initial operational release under Project SEA 1180.
Babcock Australasia RMP West program director Gary Potts said, “RMP West’s latest maintenance delivery was a milestone of firsts: the first new vessel, the first Arafura Class OPV, and the first use of Oxley Wharf for RMP West.”
The IMAV marked RMP West’s inaugural maintenance task at HMAS Stirling’s newly extended Oxley Wharf on Garden Island off the coast of Western Australia.
“It marks a leap forward in efficiency, with streamlined maintenance procedures ensuring optimal performance and longevity for the fleet. In addition to the ship’s crew, Babcock worked in close collaboration with stakeholders from the Regional Maintenance Centre, Navy’s Minor Vessel Systems Program Office, and SEA 1180 contractor, Luerssen Australia,” Potts said.
NUSHIP Arafura is the first of the Arafura Class and the first vessel in its fleet class to undergo servicing through the Maritime Sustainment Model, a Defence initiative aimed at standardising maintenance across the RAN fleet while bolstering Australian industry capability and sovereign sustainment.
The addition of the Arafura Class OPVs to Babcock’s sustainment portfolio builds upon its extensive maintenance capability across Australasia and globally, where it supports six navies and employs over 7,500 marine specialists.
Babcock designs, constructs and updates some of the world’s most complex ships and submarines while providing through-life support to ensure fleets remain mission-ready and navies can sail safely.
Potts said, “Importantly, this IMAV has provided our supply chain repair agents with exposure to a new asset class, including a substantial number of organic maintenance tasks that have yielded key learnings. Babcock is committed to enhancing sovereign capability while delivering value and on-time outcomes for the Commonwealth through our inclusive contracting model.”
The Arafura Class OPVs represent a significant step forward in the modernisation of the Royal Australian Navy’s patrol capabilities. Designed under Project SEA 1180, these vessels are being built by Luerssen Australia in partnership with the Commonwealth government to replace the ageing Armidale Class patrol boats.
Named after the Arafura Sea, the class consists of 12 ships, each measuring 80 metres in length, with a displacement of around 1,640 tonnes. They are designed for a wide range of missions, including maritime patrol, border protection and resource protection, and are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication systems.
Their modular design also allows for mission-specific equipment to be embarked, including unmanned aerial systems, while their integrated launch and recovery system supports the operation of multiple small boats such as the RHIBs and RICs.
