Australia decommissions fleet replenishment ship as replacements arrive

 

The HMAS Sirius (0266). Photo c/o Royal Australian Navy.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has decommissioned the fleet replenishment vessel HMAS Sirius (O266) after serving for 15 years.

The ship’s decommissioning was held under traditional ceremonies on 18 December 2021 at Fleet Base West in Western Australia.

HMAS Sirius was originally the commercial double-hulled tanker MV Delos built by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, and was purchased by the Australian Government in 2004, and underwent modifications for under-way replenishment and was commissioned with the Royal Australian Navy in 2006.

The ship has played a key role in defending Australia’s borders and providing support to Australian and allied naval forces, providing more than 770 replenishments at sea and sailing almost 900,000 kilometers.

HMAS Sirius also broke the previous Navy record for the biggest replenishment at sea in 2013, passing 10,000 cubic meters of fuel to US Navy replenishment ship USS Yukon (T-AO-202) in 2013.

It also conducted maritime border patrols and providing support during Operation Resolute in 2013 to 2014.

The ship will be replaced by the new Supply-class fleet replenishment vessels, with HMAS Supply (A195) commissioned in April 2021, and HMAS Stalwart (A304) commissioned on November 2021.

[1] Australia Department of Defence

[2] Royal Australian Navy