Royal Australian Navy accepts Supply-class NUSHIP Stalwart.

According to information to a press release published by Navantia on September 8, 2021, the Australian Department of Defence has signed the acceptance certificate of NUSHIP Stalwart, the second of the two Supply class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ships built by Navantia Ría de Ferrol for the Royal Australian Navy.
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Supply-class NUSHIP Stalwart (Picture source: Navantia)

The acceptance of NUSHIP Stalwart on August 30 follows two months’ of fit-out activities carried out at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Before its formal acceptance, NUSHIP Stalwart completed its final sea trials.

Navantia Australia’s managing director, Mr Israel Lozano said that the acceptance of delivery for NUSHIP Stalwart is not only a major milestone for the company, but also Australian industry capability, with the commencement of the support contract in Western Australia.

Support for the life-cycle of the vessel for the first five years’ of service and throughout the ship’s warranty period will be managed by Navantia Australia, along with sister ship, HMAS Supply.

NUSHIP Stalwart was launched on 30 August 2019 by Australian Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO, and departed Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard on May 20 this year, and headed to Perth, where it arrived on June 21.

HMAS Stalwart is the second of the Navantia built Supply-class replenishment oiler for the Royal Australian Navy. It had its keel laid in November 2018 as a part of the SEA 1654 Phase 3 project.

HMAS Stalwart (III) and her sister ship HMAS Supply (II) will replace HMAS Success and HMAS Sirius with a single class of two AOR Ships to sustain deployed maritime forces. The two ships are based on the Spanish Cantabria class and were built at the Ferrol shipyard.

The vessel has an overall length of 173.9 m, a displacement of 19,500 t, and a full-load deadweight of 9,800 tons. Its design draught and beams will be 8 m and 23 m respectively.

The Supply class is a class of replenishment oilers of the Royal Australian Navy, a role that combines the missions of a tanker and stores supply ship. As such they are designated auxiliary oiler replenisher (AOR). They will be tasked with providing ammunition, fuel, food and other supplies to Royal Australian Navy vessels around the world.