First Steel Cut for Royal Australian Navy OPVs.

A steel cutting ceremony took place on Wednesday to start construction of Royal Australian Navy’s new generation of offshore patrol vessels. The first bolt has also been locked down on the steelwork at the country’s largest ship assembly hall at Civmec’s massive new $85 million facility at Henderson. Two ships are being built at Osborne in SA by ASC Shipbuilding and another ten at Civmec in WA.

 Lürssen OPV80 design has been adapted to Australian requirements

Lürssen OPV80 design has been adapted to Australian requirements. It will be 80 metres in length with a displacement of 1700 tonnes and a draught of 4 metres. The vessels will be fitted with a 40mm gun for self-protection, three 8.4m sea boats, state of the art sensors as well as command and communication systems. This will allow the OPVs to operate alongside Australian Border Force vessels, other Australian Defence Force units and our regional partners.

The vessels will accommodate up to 60 personnel, including a crew of around 40 Navy personnel and have the ability to accept modular mission packs such as unmanned aerial systems.

The RAN Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, previously said the Lürssen ship will meet the Navy’s needs.

“The new OPV will go further and will be able to be at for sea longer than our current Patrol Boat fleet," Vice Admiral Barrett said.

"It will achieve the task that we have already been doing successfully, even better.

“The decision has been made with the team we acknowledged today and our role is to now deliver on the decision. Now let’s get on with it.