SEA 1180 Phase 1 Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) will replace and improve upon the capability delivered by the thirteen Armidale Class Patrol Boats, by acquiring 12 new vessels. The primary role of the OPV will be to undertake constabulary missions and the OPV will be the primary ADF asset for maritime patrol and response duties. A Competitive Evaluation Process (CEP) commenced in late 2015 and concluded with the signing of a contract with Luerssen Australia on 31 January 2018.
A Request for Tender (RFT) was released to Fassmer, Damen and Luerssen on 30 November 2016. The Government announced Luerssen as the preferred tenderer on 24 November 2017. The first vessel (NUSHIP Arafura) commenced construction on 15 November 2018, with the second vessel commencing on 3 June 2019.
|
Deliverable |
Achieved/ Forecast |
Notes |
|
Initial Pass |
2015 |
OPV Program was brought forward by two years with the commencement of the CEP. |
|
Government First Pass Approval Achieved |
April 2016 |
Government announced that construction of the OPV will begin in South Australian in 2018 and transition to Western Australian when the Future Frigate build commences. Three designers which were short listed being: - Damen of the Netherlands - Fassmer of Germany - Luerssen of Germany. |
|
RFT Release / Close |
November 2016 / March 2017 |
Evaluations completed |
|
Government Second Pass (Gate Two) Approval |
24 November 2017 |
Down-selection to one designer. Government Second Pass Approval achieved. |
|
Contract Signature |
31 January 2018 |
Contract signed with Luerssen Australia. |
|
First OPV commenced construction |
15 November 2018 |
Commencement of construction of first two OPVs at Osborne, South Australia. |
|
3rd OPV Commences Construction |
Q2 2020 |
Commencement of construction (OPVs 3 - 10) at the Henderson Shipyard Precinct, Western Australia. |
|
First Vessel Delivery |
Q4 2021 |
Australian businesses can register their interest in Defence shipbuilding programs by completing the Centre for Defence Industry Capability form.
Government Announcements
Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels | Department of Defence Ministers
OPV construction commences | Department of Defence Ministers
Win for workers as Offshore Patrol Vessel contract signed - 31 January 2018
Offshore Patrol Vessels Request for Tender released - 30 November 2016
Minister for Defence Industry's opening speech at the Adelaide industry briefing - 31 October 2016
Continuous Naval Shipbuilding, Government First Pass for OPVs - 18 April 2016
Bringing forward the Offshore Patrol Vessel Program - 4 August 2015
Content is current as at July 2019.