Babcock completes ship maintenance of Australia’s NUSHIP Arafura

Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has expanded its servicing portfolio to include Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) by completing intermediate maintenance availability (IMAV) on the Australian Navy’s NUSHIP Arafura.

As disclosed, the IMAV was carried out during four weeks. The schedule was conducted simultaneously alongside ongoing work by shipbuilder Luerssen Australia, which has ensured the achievement of Initial Operational Release under project SEA1180.

The IMAV was RMP West’s inaugural maintenance task completed at HMAS Stirling’s newly extended Oxley Wharf on Garden Island off the coast of Western Australia.

NUSHIP Arafura is the first new ship and the first of its fleet class to undergo servicing through the Maritime Sustainment Model, a defense initiative standardizing RAN fleet maintenance.

In January this year, the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel was delivered. This project encompasses six Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Australian Navy, with the first two vessels being constructed at Osborne. 

The units will measure 80 meters in length and displace around 1,700 tonnes. Their design also includes two changeable, containerized mission systems, supporting secondary roles such as mine hunting, unmanned aerial system missions, and hydrographic surveying.

The Arafura-class vessels are expected to play a key role in the navy’s Minor War Vessel Fleet, supporting civil maritime security and enhancing regional engagement across the Southwest Pacific and Southeast Asia.

“RMP-West’s latest maintenance delivery was a milestone of firsts: the first new vessel, the first Arafura class, and the first use of Oxley Wharf for RMP West. It marks a leap forward in efficiency, with streamlined maintenance procedures ensuring optimal performance and longevity for the fleet,” Babcock Australasia RMP-West Program Director Gary Potts said.

“In addition to the ship’s crew, Babcock worked in close collaboration with stakeholders from the Regional Maintenance Centre, Navy’s Minor Vessel Systems Program Office, and SEA1180 contractor, Luerssen Australia.”