The Royal Australian Navy Commissioned HMAS Arafura
The Royal Australian Navy formally commissioned the first of the new Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) on 28 June 2025. The ceremony was held at HMAS Stirling in Fremantle (Western Australia) and marked a major milestone in the government’s Surface Fleet Review. Richard Marles, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, said that Arafura will help the Navy ensure the safety and security of Australia’s maritime borders. It was built by Lürssen Australia at Osborne in Adelaide. HMAS Arafura will operate alongside the upgraded Cape-class patrol boats to enhance Australia’s maritime patrol and policing capabilities.
HMAS Arafura is a modern 80‑metre offshore patrol ship with updated systems. It displaces about 1,640 tonnes and has a beam of 13m and a draft of 4m. Twin 4,250 kW diesel engines enable a top speed of 20 knots and a range of roughly 4,000 nautical miles. The ship has a crew of roughly 40 sailors(with accommodations for up to 60) and features improved living quarters for endurance at sea. For boarding and search-and-rescue duties, the vessel is equipped with two 8.5-meter and one 10.5-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). They will assist the Navy in patrolling and securing Australia’s maritime borders alongside other assets. These 1,600-ton ships significantly surpass the size of the 300-ton Armidale-class boats they replace and offer much better seakeeping capabilities and endurance.
HMAS Arafura is one of six planned ships in the Arafura class. The class is based on Lürssen’s German OPV80 design and is being procured under Project SEA 1180 Phase 1. The first two vessels were built at Osborne in Adelaide by Lürssen Australia and ASC, while the remaining four are under construction at Henderson, Western Australia, by Lürssen Australia and Civmec. Originally, twelve Arafura-class OPVs were planned, but a 2023 defense review reduced the order to six. Arafura itself was launched in December 2021 and handed over to the Navy in early 2025 after some delays. The next ship, NUSHIP Eyre, has been built and awaits delivery, and four more are on the way. Together, these new patrol vessels will greatly expand the RAN’s ability to patrol Australia’s vast coastline and exclusive economic zone.