Australia acquires Norwegian-built ‘undersea support vessel’
ADV Guidance will be the new name for CSV Normand Jarl once it enters Royal Australian Navy service. (Photo: Solstad)
Australia has adopted its second offshore support vessel, this time for testing crewed and autonomous underwater systems.
Australia has procured a dedicated ‘Undersea Support Vessel’, its purpose being to conduct trials and activities to leverage new technologies in the undersea domain, the Department of Defence announced on 8 April.
The 7,403t vessel is the former Norwegian-flagged construction support vessel CSV Normand Jarl, and it was procured for A$110 million ($73.2 million). Solstad Offshore, a Norwegian company, announced the sale on 12 December 2022.
Since arriving in January, the 107m-long ship has been in Singapore undergoing inspection and certification activities at the hands of Teekay Shipping Australia.
Upon completion, it will sail to Australia later this year, likely in
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![AUKUS advance on UUVs contrasts with Virginia-class compromise]()
AUKUS advance on UUVs contrasts with Virginia-class compromise
The AUKUS partnership is accelerating uncrewed undersea capability while its submarine arm inches forward, and Australia’s decision to settle for three in-service Virginia-class boats raises questions about industrial risk, dependency and whether Pillar II may deliver meaningful capability long before Pillar I can.
-
![Peru partnership may serve as a template for South Korean naval exports into South America]()
Peru partnership may serve as a template for South Korean naval exports into South America
With a growing pipeline of naval modernisation programmes in South America, South Korean companies could be set to expand their presence in the region as recent contract wins highlight growing collaboration.
-
![AUKUS plan B? Japan’s submarines stopgap gains traction]()
AUKUS plan B? Japan’s submarines stopgap gains traction
Australia’s Collins-class life of type extension has revived debate over whether Canberra needs a contingency plan as risks to every stage of the AUKUS pathway mount. With Japan newly open to exports, the case for a diesel-electric stopgap is gaining traction.
-
![Seoul’s SSN programme launch raises questions on fuel, tech and build location]()
Seoul’s SSN programme launch raises questions on fuel, tech and build location
Seoul has unveiled its “Jangbogo-N Project” to develop domestically built, nuclear-propelled attack submarines in close coordination with Washington, marking an escalation of the Republic of Korea’s deterrence posture against Pyongyang’s undersea nuclear capabilities.
