Australia’s 3rd Arufara-class offshore patrol vessel reaches keel laying milestone
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| Lürssen's PV80 design used for the RAN's Arufara-class OPV project. Photo c/o Reddit. |
German shipbuilder Lurssen and its Australian partner Civmec has reached a milestone in naval construction as it has laid the keel for the third Arufara-class offshore patrol vessel that it is building for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
The ship, which will be named HMAS Pilbara once in service with the RAN, is the first ship of the class being built by Civmec through its partnership with Lurssen under the Australian Maritime Shipbuilding and Export Group (AMSEG) company based in Henderson, Western Australia.
The first two ships of the class were built for Lurssen by ASC Pty Ltd’s Osborne Naval Shipyard.
The Australian Department of Defence (DOD) ordered 12 new offshore patrol vessels to be built in Australia, under the SEA 1180 Offshore Patrol Vessel project. German shipbuilder Lurssen won the project and has offered the company’s PV80 design as basis for the project.
According to Australian Minister of Defence Industry Melissa Price, the project has created around 400 jobs in Perth area, involved more than 300 businesses across the Australian supply chain, and has achieved more than 60% local industry content.
The first ship of the class is expected to be delivered and commissioned to the RAN by 2021.
[1] Australian Department of Defence
[2] Civmec
[3] Royal Australian Navy
Australia’s 3rd Arufara-class offshore patrol vessel reaches keel laying milestone
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
September 14, 2020
Rating:
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
September 14, 2020
Rating:
if Austal cannot deliver the PN's requirements of 6 OPVs then it should be a lost to both side of the equation, Philippine Navy badly needed this 6 units of steel hulled OPVs to replace its legacy ships in service for almost 70 years now, I hope Austal can get experience in building steel hulled ship to diversify its portfolio and me as a Filipino following the defense modernization of the Philippine armed forces would like this project to bring in reality because it provide more local jobs for Filipinos and the benefits for the Philippines and Australia will be tremendous.
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