The Australian defense department has signed the acceptance certificate of future HMAS Stalwart, the second of the two Supply class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships built by Navantia Ría de Ferrol for the Royal Australian Navy.
The acceptance of Stalwart on August 30 follows two months’ of fit-out activities carried out at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Before its formal acceptance, Stalwart completed its final sea trials. Verifications and demonstrations of the combat, communications and navigation systems took place on August 22.
The acceptance of future HMAS Stalwart follows the commissioning of the first ship in the class, HMAS Supply, in April this year.
Supply-class oilers will be replacing the now retired HMAS Success and the HMAS Sirius, which is currently conducting its final deployment. The former commercial tanker turned fleet replenishment vessel is scheduled to decommission in December this year.
“We congratulate Defence on the acceptance of delivery of Stalwart. Navantia Australia established operations in Henderson, Western Australia in May 2020 to provide sustainment support to Stalwart and is another example of how our commitment to Plan Galileo and to helping develop Australia’s sovereign naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry”, said Navantia Australia’s managing director Israel Lozano.
Support for the life-cycle of the vessel for the first five years’ of service and throughout the ship’s warranty period will be managed by Navantia Australia, along with sister ship, HMAS Supply.
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.
Stalwart was launched on August 30, 2019 and departed Navantia’s Ferrol shipyard on May 20 this year. The ship arrived in Perth on June 21.
