Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) proposed by Luerssen for Defence Project 1180

ADM Weekly: According to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), sea trials were originally planned to take place before December 2022. However, they were delayed due to structural fire protection design issues that hindered the ship’s ability to meet (Defence) seaworthiness standards.

The initial trial lasted just one night, with Arafura returning to the Osborne Naval Shipyard on 27 August. It departed the shipyard again on 29 August for more trials in the Gulf of St Vincent off Adelaide.

By NOA editor; the second ship in the class, Eyre was launched earlier this year, also at Osborne. The remaining four ships in the class are being built at Henderson W.A. The original order of 12 ships was reduced to 6 by the Defence Strategic Review.