A ceremony was held on 29 August 2025 to mark the laying of the keel of Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) 6, NUSHIP Carpentaria at Henderson, Western Australia. According to Defence, this is another significant milestone for Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding Program and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Rear Admiral Michael Houghton, Head of Patrol Boats and Specialist Ships represented the ceremony, honouring tradition by positioning a coin under the keel of NUSHIP Carpentaria.
“A keel laying ceremony which marks the beginning of a ship’s construction, is an important naval tradition which is believed to bring good luck for the vessel’s build and life at sea,” Rear Admiral Michael Houghton said.
“The OPV program is a major contributor to continuous naval shipbuilding in Australia, which creates and sustains local jobs and harnesses our national defence industry’s local talent and technology."
The first two vessels were constructed at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia with the remaining four currently under construction at the Henderson Maritime Precinct. The first ship, HMAS Arafura, was commissioned into service on 28 June 2025 with the second OPV, NUSHIP Eyre, expected to be delivered later this year.
“Defence investment in a sovereign Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Enterprise is expected to support around 8,500 jobs in shipbuilding and sustainment by 2030," Rear Admiral Michael Houghton stated.
“OPVs help patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border alongside the Evolved Cape Class patrol boats. They also play an important role in Navy’s commitment to supporting the long-term objectives of the National Defence Strategy.”
The OPVs are a more versatile platform compared with previous classes of patrol vessels. They 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.