First Guardian-class patrol boat launched

The first of of 21 new new Guardian-class patrol boats for the Pacific Patrol Boat Program was was launched in Western Australia on Monday 28 May.

CAPTION: The first of 21 new Guardian-class patrol boats for the Pacific Patrol Boat Program moving from build site to water for launch. Austal photo.

The vessel is the from the Turnbull Government’s $90 billion continuous shipbuilding program.

Minister for Defence Industry Christopher Pyne said the project, which is worth around $335 million, was on time and on budget.

“This particular boat will be gifted to Papua New Guinea in late October 2018, and is the first of 21 boats to be gifted to 12 Pacific-island countries and East Timor as part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program,” Minister Pyne said.

“The boats will be used to conduct maritime surveillance and enforcement operations, such as combating illegal fishing.

“Construction of the second and third boats is underway, with new boats scheduled to be delivered at approximately three-month intervals from late 2018 until 2023.”

 

 

The 39.5 metre steel-hulled patrol boats are being built at Austal’s dedicated production facility in the suburb of Naval Base, near Henderson.

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