Arafura-class Archives - CONTACT magazine

Commissioning crew of NUSHIP Arafura before the ship was formally commissioned as HMAS Arafura, at Fleet Base West in Western Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Arafura finally commissioned

29/06/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5360 Views 4 Comments Arafura-class

More than six years after the ship’s keel was laid down and more than three years after she was launched,

NUSHIP Arafura returns to the Osborne Naval Shipyard after conducting sea trials in August 2024. Image provided by Luerssen Australia.

News Royal Australian Navy

First (overdue) Arafura-class OPV finally delivered

31/01/202531/01/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2315 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class

Defence has accepted the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – NUSHIP Arafura – for further test and evaluation ahead of

Midshipman Xavier Ryan takes a bearing fix in one of the new bridge simulators located at Defence Establishment Berrimah, Darwin. Story by Richard Wilkins. Photos by Petty Officer Leo Baumgartner.

News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry

Bridge simulators boost training in the north

03/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1211 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, Darwin NT

Navy’s patrol boat force will be better prepared for protecting Australia’s northern advances thanks to two new bridge simulators implemented

NUSHIP Arafura Petty Officer Darren Young, left, and Chief Petty Officer Matthew Hitchcock, observe Royal Brunei Navy sailors during a fire-fighting exercise aboard KDB Darulehsan off the coast of Brunei. Photo by Rhody Gleeson.

News Royal Australian Navy

Future OPV operators learn from Royal Brunei Navy

16/08/202322/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1518 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, NUSHIP Arafura, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBLF)

Bringing a new Royal Australian Navy ship into service naturally brings some challenges – especially when it is only the

Ship's company of HMAS Armidale line the upper decks during the decommissioning ceremony. Story by Lieutenant Harrison Thomas. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.

News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Armidale decommissioned

05/04/202307/04/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2489 Views 1 Comment Arafura-class, Armidale-class patrol boat, HMAS Armidale, HMAS Coonawarra

Ship’s company, VIPs and onlookers said farewell to the lead Armidale-class patrol boat, HMAS Armidale, as the 17-year-old vessel was

Commodore Steve Tiffin, Nova Perris and Vice Admiral Michael Noonan at the launch of NUSHIP Arafura. Photo supplied by Luerssen.

News Royal Australian Navy Videos

First Arafura-class OPV launched

16/12/202116/12/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4498 Views 2 Comments Arafura-class

In a major milestone for the Royal Australian Navy, the first of the new Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, Arafura, has

One half of the future HMAS Arafura is transports to meet its aft half.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Two halves of future HMAS Arafura brought together

01/05/202006/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7039 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, offshore patrol vessel, OPV

Just shy of a year since an official keel-laying for Navy’s new first-of-class OPVs, the two halves of future HMAS Arafura have been brought together.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan addresses the keel laying ceremony for offshore patrol vessel 2 NUSHIP Eyre via video link. Photo by Russell Millard.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

New Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel names announced

09/04/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5170 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, offfshore-patrol vessel, OPV

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan today announced the names of vessels two to six in the Arafura-class of OPV during a keel-laying ceremony in SA.

Evyenia Kontakos, a fourth-year apprentice welder and boilermaker with the Australian Submarine Corporation and Larry Lavallee, OPV Block Construction Manager, pose for an official photo after hammering in wedges to secure the Chief of Navy's ceremonial coin in place during NISHIP Eyre's keel laying ceremony. Photo by Russell Millard.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Keel laying ceremony for second offshore patrol vessel

09/04/202009/04/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3035 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, offshore patrol vessel, OPV

Australia’s $90 billion National Shipbuilding Program reached another milestone today with the ceremonial keel laying of the second Arafura-class OPV.