Page 6 - Australian Defence Magazine June 2019

NEWS REVIEW
INDUSTRY UPDATE
First OPV keel laid in Adelaide
THE first Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) reached a significant mile- stone with the ceremonial keel laying at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide.
Chief of the RAN Vice Admiral Michael Noonan positioned a coin to commemorate the laying of the keel for the first vessel to be named Arafura.
“The keel laying ceremony represents a great naval tradition and I am honoured to be joined today by the two youngest ship- builders in the Osborne shipyard in placing the commemorative coin under the keel,” Vice Admiral Noonan said.
This project will see the delivery of 12 OPVs to replace the Armidale Class Pa- trol Boats.
The Arafura Class is named for the Ara- fura Sea between Australia and Indonesia, acknowledging the importance placed on the coastal regions around Australia and their significant role in the nation’s security and economic prosperity.
Chief of Navy VADM Mike Noonan with Boilermaker Kane Ramsay and Document Editor Lauren Pitman.
DEFENCE has reached a settlement with Navantia over repair costs for RAN's two Landing Helicopter Docks (LHDs).
Reports indicate the settlement is 'favourable' for Defence, although exact figures were not given. In a statement, Defence told the ABC that the two ships are now largely problem-free and can operate 'without significant issues'.
"Defence has worked very closely with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and industry to identify all issues that were affecting the performance of the Canberra
Class Landing Helicopter Dock propulsion pod system," a spokesperson said.
"Measures have been implemented that have enabled the Canberra Class to operate without further significant issues."
Issues with the LHDs stemmed from ir- regularities within their external azimuth propulsion pods. Former Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, in answer to questions from Labor Senator Kim Carr during a Senate hearing in 2017, confirmed that RAN had observed the migration of
HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle sail in company.
oils across seals and tiny metal particulates in the pod lube oil. Oils of different viscosi- ties were also found to have mixed within the pods of both ships.
The problems saw HMAS Adelaide dry- docked in Sydney's Garden Island naval base. Each ship is propelled by two Siemens Navantia 11-megawatt azimuth thrusters, each with an onboard electric motor, driv- ing 4.5 metre diameter propellers. The elec- tricity is provided by a combined diesel and
gas (CODAG) system.
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“I would like to thank our defence indus- try counterparts and Defence’s Capability Acquisition & Sustainment Group for their collective efforts to get us to this point on time and budget,” VADM Noonan said.
Prime contractor Luerssen Australia along with shipbuilding sub-contractor ASC commenced construction of the first vessel on 15 November 2018.
Luerssen Australia Chairman Tim Wag- ner said the milestone demonstrated the 'significant progress' made already on the Arafura Class program.
“This is another reminder of the impor- tance of the Arafura Class program towards Australia building a sovereign naval ship- building capability,” Wagner said.
“As the prime contractor and designer for the Sea 1180 program, we have been delighted with
progress so far, and remain confident that we will deliver all 12 vessels on time and on budget.” “The Arafura Class is ASC’s second ship- building program, commenced as we con- tinue to successfully complete the Air War- fare Destroyer program, and we are very pleased at its progress to date,” ASC head Stuart Whiley said. “I would also like to pay tribute to the skilled and experienced workforce of ASC Shipbuilding, who are carrying out the shipbuilding work on this
program, under contract to ASC.”
The first ship will be launched in 2021, with the second ship to be launched from
the Osborne shipyard in 2022. Construction of the third vessel will
commence in 2020 at the Henderson Mari- time Precinct in WA, where the remaining 10 vessels will be constructed.
Defence settles with Navantia on LHDs
6 | June 2019 | www.australiandefence.com.au
DEFENCE
RUSSELL MILLARD