The activity, won in a domestic and international environment, will provide immediate, ongoing work for over 120 Austal employees and provides continuity of work between the completion of two Cape class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy and a major export contract for Danish company Mols Linien, commencing April 2017.

The work on the ACPB’s adds to the company’s growing service and sustainment business. Austal is already delivering in-service support to the Australian Border Force’s fleet of eight Cape class patrol boats (designed and constructed by Austal) and has been contracted to provide in service support for 19 steel Pacific patrol boat replacement vessels, as they enter service from late 2018.

Austal chief executive David Singleton commented, “As the original designer and builder of the Armidale class, Austal is in an ideal position to deliver this important, mid-life enhancement work to a proven naval platform. Our inherent knowledge base and practical experience building and servicing the hard working Armidale fleet will ensure the vessels depart Austal in 2017 as a fully operational and effective capability.

“This order is indeed timely for Austal and ensures that key skills in naval shipbuilding and repair are maintained in Henderson during the lead up to the placement of the offshore patrol vessel contract.

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“Once again, by winning this competitively bid contract, we have demonstrated that Australian shipbuilding can be internationally competitive.”

The ACPB is a 56 metre all-aluminium monohull patrol boat designed and constructed by Austal for the RAN. Fourteen ACPB’s were delivered from 2005 to 2007 and the vessels continue to play an integral role in Australia’s naval capability in the lead up to the arrival of the new offshore patrol vessel fleet from 2020.