The 19,500-tonne vessel, which will be known as HMAS Supply (II) (with pennant number A195) once it is commissioned in April, arrived for the first time at Fleet Base East in Sydney, New South Wales, on 15 January, according to a statement issued that same day by the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra.

 

The first of two Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ships for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has arrived at its homeport in Sydney Harbour.

The RAN’s future AOR vessel, Supply , arrived for the first time at Fleet Base East in Sydney, New South Wales, on 15 January. (Commonwealth of Australia/Department of Defence)

“The arrival of Supply into Sydney Harbour today marks the beginning of a new capability for the Royal Australian Navy, one that will extend the endurance and operational range of Australia’s entire naval fleet,” said Defence Minister Linda Reynolds.

The move comes after the DoD formally accepted the 173.9 m-long ship from Spanish shipbuilder Navantia on 8 January.