Arafura-class patrol boats centre of gravity shifting west

One of the most critical projects for retaining Australia’s naval shipbuilding skills is SEA 1180, the $4bn acquisition of 12 Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

One of the most critical projects for retaining Australia’s naval shipbuilding skills is SEA 1180, the $4bn acquisition of 12 Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

When the government announced Germany’s Luerssen as the designer it also confirmed a highly unusual approach — by Australian standards — of construction in two shipyards. The first two OPVs are being built in Adelaide with the next 10 at Henderson in WA.

This was done not only to capitalise on the dynamism of the maritime heavy engineering and construction sector in the West but also to preserve critical shipbuilding skills in Adelaide. It was needed because of a looming gap between the end of blue-collar work on Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyers, which started to tail off in 2016, and the start of the Hunter-class frigates that was scheduled for about now.

So far, the plan has worked well. BAE Systems are close to completing the first ship in SA with the second not too far behind and have retained a core of 450 workers who otherwise faced the sack.

However, the bulk of the effort has now shifted west with Civmec well into their first OPV — the third in the series — with construction of the fourth also under way. At the moment we have the unusual situation of two Arafura-class ships nearing completion in Adelaide with another two identical vessels about 18 months behind them being built at Henderson.

There is some conjecture about the exact schedule because repeated requests to the office of new Defence Minister Peter Dutton about the program were met with complete silence — as was a follow-up inquiry to the Prime Minister’s office.

However, Luerssen Australia chief executive, Jens Nielsen, explained: “The launch of OPV#1 is dependent on the continuous impact assessments of COVID-19 restrictions in our supply chain. Impacts to an originally targeted launch in late Q2, 2021, with the pandemic still continuing has resulted in an assessment of optimising the level of completion prior to a launch.

“Luerssen Australia advises as a result of COVID impacts the launch is now planned in Q4, 2021.”

He commented on the level of local content being achieved and also on the possibility of exporting naval vessels from Australia via the company’s joint venture with Civmec: “We are very pleased with our level of engagement with Australian industry and in particular SMEs,” Nielsen said.

“We are on track and potentially exceeding anticipated targets and look forward to doing even more as the program matures.

“Luerssen is constantly monitoring and engaging with potential regional customers including, for example, New Zealand, which is also an AIC focused market.

“Without naming any particular opportunity we remain very confident that building through our AMSEG joint venture, the Luerssen Australian operation will be a long-lasting success for us and our local supply chain.”

The Australian ships are derivatives of OPVs built for Brunei.

Asked to comment on the amount of redesign this required, Mr Nielsen said: “The customer is best placed to respond to the requirements that drive specific changes or modifications. As a general statement it is known that every customer has specific requirements for capability and compatibility which need to be accommodated. For example, there was a reduction in aviation systems not required to support unmanned aerial vehicles while no change was made to the aft deck structural strength.”

As well as the possibility of exports, it also seems likely that the RAN will order more Arafuras and use them for missions such as mine warfare and hydrographic survey. That’s very good news for WA in general and Civmec in particular.