General News
7 October, 2026
Navy grows its FNQ base
CAIRNS is to become home to at least two Royal Australian Navy Arafura Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) at HMAS Cairns as from early next year.
The first will be HMAS Arafura, with the other yet to be named.
The announcement builds on the federal government’s $250 million investment in HMAS Cairns, including expanded berthing capacity and enhanced supporting wharf and landside facilities.
Through this project, more than 770 people worked onsite, with $67.7 million awarded to local businesses within 125 kilometres of Cairns.
Homeporting Arafura Class OPVs in Cairns will enhance Navy’s ability to operate and sustain capability in the north and support engagements across the region.
The Arafura Class OPVs are designed to conduct maritime patrol, surveillance and response tasks and will work closely with Australian Border Force and regional partners.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said Northern Australia was central to “our Defence strategy and Cairns is an increasingly important hub for Navy operations, sustainment and maritime security”.
“Cairns has developed one of Australia’s most capable maritime sustainment and maintenance sectors, making it a natural location to support the future offshore patrol vessel fleet,” he said.
“This decision strengthens sovereign industrial capability while creating opportunities for local businesses to support one of Navy’s newest classes of vessels.”
Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith said, since the release of the National Defence Strategy, he had been advocating for the capacity of the Far North.
“The $250 million expanded wharf at HMAS Cairns will see more jobs, more growth and more security for our region,” he said.
“The home porting of at least two Arafura Class OPVs is an acknowledgement of the capacity of Cairns and the importance of the Far North more broadly.”
It comes after the federal government is considering moving a fleet of Army watercraft to Cairns or Townsville as part of a multibillion-dollar expansion of Australia’s coastal warfare capabilities. A decision has yet to be made.
