Spanish shipbuilder Navantia held a keel-laying ceremony for the first of two auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessels ordered by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) at its Ferrol yard on 17 November.
According to Navantia the launch of the first oiler is planned for the third quarter of 2018, with hand-over due approximately a year later. Dates for the sister ship will be about nine months behind.
Based on the Spanish Armada’s supply ship SPS Cantabria , the oilers will be 173.8 m long and have a fully laden weight of 9,930 tonnes. They will have a top speed of 20 kt and have accommodation for 196, although the standard crew number will be 130.
Australian Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne announced the the new fleet replenishment ships will be named Supply and Stalwart.
The ships will be known as Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels and will replace the current HMA Ships Success and Sirius.
