Australia Commissions First Arafura OPV

The Australian Navy commissioned the offshore patrol vessel (OPV), ARAFURA on June 28 in Western Australia. The vessel is the lead ship of its class and the first dedicated OPV to enter service with the fleet. Originally envisioned as a class of 20, the now six planned ARAFURA class vessels are designed to protect Australia’s territorial waters and assist in humanitarian missions. ARAFURA was constructed by Luerssen Australia at the Osborne Shipyard in South Australia. The second...