Today, right on 1 pm, the HMAS Arafura came though the Heads, North and South Moles, into Fremantle Harbour.
Our Shipping and Sailing Correspondent, Jean Hudson, was in hand to capture her arrival. Here’s a gallery of Jean’s pics.
On Saturday, Navy will formally Commission and name the ship.
The Arafura has been a while in arriving as a commissioned Navy vessel.
The ship – the first in a line of six Arafura Class OPVs – or Offshore Patrol Vessels – was planned to enter service in 2022. However, this was significantly delayed due to reasons that are still debated, as reported in Naval News in January this year.
HMAS Arafura was eventually delivered to Navy in February 2025.
As explained by Navy –
The OPV design will support specialist mission packages, such as a maritime tactical unmanned aerial system, and into the future, rapid environmental assessment and deployable mine counter measure capabilities.
The primary role of the OPV will be to undertake constabulary missions, maritime patrol and response duties to operate alongside Australian Border Force vessels, and other Australian Defence Force units and regional partners.
As we say, she will be formally commissioned this Saturday, 28 June 2025.
By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News
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