HMAS SIRIUS O 266 the former Greek tanker DELOS built in 2004 and purchased by the Royal Australian Navy and converted into a fleet replenishment vessel is in her final days prior to decommissioning in December 2021.
DELOS was built at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea as one from 6 of her class being built for the Greek Shipping Company Tsakos. She was launched on 12th April 2004 and was purchased by the Australian Government on 3rd June 2004 and handed over from Hyundai on 16th June 2004, with the intention of modifying her as a replacement for HMAS WESTRALIA O 195 (Ex-RFA APPLELEAF A 79) for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Above images on Thursday 18th November arriving in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia for the final time prior to decommissioning in December.
During September 2005, she was taken up by Tenix Defence (which had been awarded the A$60 million conversion contract on 15th March 2005) for conversion into a replenishment vessel, which was completed 5 weeks ahead of schedule. HMAS SIRIUS O 266 Sirius was commissioned into the RAN on 16th September 2006, in a ceremony that included HMAS WESTRALIA O 195 decommissioning.
She is named in honour of HMS SIRIUS, the flagship of the First Fleet of British convicts sent to Australia in 1788.
Above images on Monday 22nd November leaving Hobart, Tasmania, Australia for the final time prior to decommissioning in December.
During September 2021 HMAS SIRIUS O 266 embarked on her final deployment to South-East Asia and the south-west Pacific prior to her planned decommissioning in December 2021.
Photos by Mr. Glenn Towler. NO PHOTOS can be used or manipulated without our permission. © All rights reserved. Malta Ship Photos & Action Photos – www.maltashipphotos.com
Published – Saturday 27th November, 2021.