Civmec and Luerssen Australia announced the laying of the keel of NUSHIP Carpentaria, the sixth Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel. The event is a significant milestone in demonstrating Civmec and Luerssen Australia’s commitment to continuous naval shipbuilding and the delivery of the Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel programme.
The ceremony took place on Friday 29 August at Civmec’s Henderson naval shipyard and manufacturing facility in Western Australia. The keel laying ceremony is a longstanding naval tradition that signifies the official start of a ship’s construction and life. As part of the ceremony two junior shipbuilders placed a coin beneath the keel, a symbolic gesture representing good fortune and safe passage for the vessel.
The Arafura Class will patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border. They will also support humanitarian and disaster relief, enhance regional engagement and deliver other Navy missions. The Arafura Class are a more versatile platform compared with previous classes of patrol craft employed by the Royal Australian Navy. The Arafura Class are able to operate over longer distances and can be reconfigured to perform a number of tasks and roles originally carried out by several different classes of vessels.
The first two Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels were built at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The first of class HMAS Arafura was commissioned on 28 June 2025. Ship 2, NUSHIP Eyre, will be delivered later this year.
Four Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels are being built at Civmec’s naval shipyard and manufacturing facility in Henderson, Western Australia. They are the largest and most complex Royal Australian Navy ships ever built in Western Australia. The first of these ships, NUSHIP Pilbara, will be launched later this year.
Civmec acquired Luerssen Australia on 1 July 2025 as part of a consolidation of its Naval shipbuilding business.
Civmec General Manager Defence, Mark Clay, said: “Today’s keel laying ceremony for NUSHIP Carpentaria is a proud moment for everyone at Civmec and Luerssen Australia. Every plate welded and block assembled embodies our pride and commitment to naval shipbuilding and strengthening the Royal Australian Navy. We wish fair winds to NUSHIP Carpentaria and all involved in her build and future Naval service.”
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