Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has launched the second and final Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ship on order for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Named Stalwart (III) (with pennant number A304), the 173.9 m-long ship entered the water in a ceremony held on 30 August at the company’s facilities in the northwestern Spanish coastal city of Ferrol.
The vessel, which like first-of-class Supply (II) is based on the Spanish Navy’s Cantabria-class AORs, is expected to enter service in 2022, while Supply is set to join the force in 2020, according to the RAN.
The two 19,500-tonne AOR ships were ordered as part of an AUD642 million (USD432 million) contract signed in May 2016 under Australia’s Project Sea 1654 Phase 3 Maritime Operational Support Capability programme.
(Jane's)