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Following the successful commissioning of HMAS Arafura earlier this year, the Royal Australian Navy’s next Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel (OPV), NUSHIP Eyre, has completed a critical milestone with the conclusion of its sea trials off the coast of South Australia.
Sea trials are an essential phase in the construction and delivery of a naval vessel, providing assurance that all onboard systems perform as designed. The recently completed Sea Acceptance Testing (SAT) for NUSHIP Eyre verified the operational readiness of key capabilities, including propulsion, navigation, communications and combat systems, ahead of formal handover to Navy.
As the second ship in the Arafura Class, Eyre represents an important progression in the delivery of the Royal Australian Navy’s future surface fleet. The Arafura Class OPVs, constructed under the AU$4 billion SEA 1180 program, are central to Australia’s efforts to enhance maritime security across its vast maritime domain.
Displacing approximately 1,640 tonnes and measuring 80 metres in length, these modern vessels are designed to undertake a wide range of constabulary missions, including border protection, fisheries enforcement, counter-terrorism and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
Equipped with advanced surveillance systems and modular mission spaces, the Arafura Class is tailored to patrol and protect Australia’s strategic sea lanes and maritime interests.
The OPVs are being built in partnership between Luerssen Australia, the prime contractor, and Australian shipbuilders including ASC in South Australia and Civmec in Western Australia. The program is expected to deliver six vessels in total, with the first two constructed in Adelaide and the remaining four vessels to be built in Henderson, Western Australia.
Luerssen Australia general manager, Mark Clay, welcomed the achievement, saying, “Congratulations to all involved. This accomplishment marks a significant step forward for the Offshore Patrol Vessel program, as we look now to continue this momentum in Western Australia for OPVs three to six.”
With Eyre nearing handover, attention now turns to the next vessel in the series, NUSHIP Pilbara, which is expected to be launched later this year in Western Australia. The continued delivery of these vessels supports not only Australia’s naval modernisation but also the growth of sovereign shipbuilding capability, with hundreds of Australian workers and suppliers contributing to the program.
The Arafura Class will form the backbone of the Navy’s patrol force for decades to come, replacing the ageing Armidale Class and Cape Class patrol boats with a more capable, flexible platform built for the evolving demands of maritime security.
