The Australian Department of Defense has signed the acceptance certificate of the Auxiliary Oilier Replenishment (AOR) ship, NUSHIP ‘Supply’ from Spanish shipbuilder, Navantia.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN)’s Supply-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ship, built in Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard in Spain and launched in November 2018, left for Australia on 2nd September. After more than a month of sailing, it arrived at its naval base in Garden Island, near the city of Perth in the state of Western Australia, where it was completed.
In addition to the workload that this construction has meant to Ferrol shipyard, the contract also includes the support to the life cycle of two AOR ships for a period of 5 years, which will be carried out by Navantia Australia.
The two Supply Class AOR vessels, which are based on Spanish Navy replenishment oiler, Cantabria (A15), were ordered in May 9, 2017 as part of the Royal Australian Navy’s Project SEA1654. The ships, which are adapted to Australian standards and requirements, will replace the current RAN replenishment ships, HMAS Success (OR 304) and HMAS Sirius (O 266).
The ships are intended to carry fuel, dry cargo, water, food, ammunition, equipment and spare parts to provide operational support for the deployed naval or combat forces operating far from the port on the high seas for longer periods.
In addition to replenishment, the vessels can be used to combat against environmental pollution at sea, provide logistics support for the armed forces, and to support humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations following a natural disaster.
For Navantia, the signing means an important new milestone in its internationalization process, especially in Australia, a strategic client, where 19 naval units designed by Navantia will soon be in service, 16 of which have also been built in Spain.
