Commissioned on 30 May 2026, HMAS Eyre is an Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel (OPV). It is the second of 6 Arafura Class ships built to replace the Armidale Class and Cape Class patrol boats.

Eyre was constructed by Luerssen Australia in partnership with Civmec Limited, at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The vessel will support specialist mission packages such as a maritime tactical unmanned aerial system. In the future, it will support rapid environmental assessment and deployable mine countermeasure capabilities. 

Protecting Australia’s coastal and territorial waters, Eyre’s primary focus will be on fisheries protection, border security, customs and law enforcement operations.

Patrolling Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone, Eyre will work with Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority. It will also collaborate with regional partners to uphold Australian and International law. This is to ensure our region’s security, defence and economic prosperity against:

  • unauthorised entry
  • breaches of customs, immigration and drugs legislation
  • illegal activity
  • risks to the integrity of national fish-stocks, marine environments and other natural resources.

Eyre’s home port will be Fleet Base West; the ship sails with the southern bluefin tuna swimming above stylised waves. The tuna represents speed, strength, and sustained endurance at sea.

The first 2 Arafura Class ships have been be delivered from South Australia. The remaining 4 will be built in Western Australia by Luerssen Australia and Civmec Construction.

Specifications

  • Role: Patrol Boat
  • Pennant: 204
  • International callsign: VLEY
  • Motto: Responsive and Adaptive 
  • Home port: Fleet Base West
  • Builder: Civmec Limited
  • Length: 80 metres
  • Beam: 13 metres
  • Draught: 4 metres
  • Displacement: 1,640 tonnes
  • Top speed: 20 knots (top speed) 
  • Range: 4,000 nautical miles
  • Crew: 40 (accommodation for 60)
  • Machinery: two 4,250 kW diesel engines
  • Boats:
    • two 8.5 metre Boomeranger FRB 850 rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) (crane-launched)
    • one 10.5 metre Boomeranger C 1100 RHIB (stern-launched)
  • Weapons: two 50-calibre machine guns
The official HMAS Eyre badge with blue and white waves and and a fish.

Class

Arafura Class

Type

Offshore patrol vessel