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Shipbuilding prime Austal Australia has delivered the 20th Guardian Class patrol boat to the Australian Department of Defence.
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The vessel, Tobwaan Mainiku for the Republic of Kiribati, was accepted by representatives of the Department of Defence at the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, on 12 July this year.
Austal Limited chief executive officer Paddy Gregg said the delivery of the 20th Guardian Class patrol boat highlighted the industry-leading productivity of the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, now comprising 24 vessels.
“The Austal Australia team, together with our valued supply chain and defence industry partners, including the Department of Defence and the Royal Australian Navy, have now delivered 20 Guardian Class patrol boats to the Australian government since December 2018,” Gregg said.
“Effectively, we’ve delivered one new Guardian Class patrol boat every four months (on average) over the past five years, highlighting Western Australia’s industry-leading naval shipbuilding capability and productivity. It’s even more impressive when you consider the Austal Australia team has also delivered two Cape Class patrol boats, six Evolved Cape Class patrol boats, and three large high-speed ferries to commercial operators around the world, during the same period.
“We again extend our thanks to our supply chain and defence industry partners for their continued support and collaboration in delivering the Guardian Class patrol boats for the Australian government and our Pacific Island neighbours,” Gregg said.
The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2016, with subsequent, contract options awarded in April 2018, November 2022 and June 2024, taking the project to 24 vessels, valued at more than AU$400 million, in total.
The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project reportedly supports 200 direct jobs at Austal Australia and more than 200 indirect jobs nationally, through Australian businesses contracted by Austal.
Through close collaboration with supply chain partners and the Department of Defence, Austal is achieving over 60 per cent Australian industry content on the Guardian Class patrol boats and helping to build the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise and Australia’s sovereign capability.
The 39.5-metre steel monohull patrol boat – designed, constructed and sustained by Austal Australia – is based on a design platform that has included the 38-metre Bay Class, 56-metre Armidale Class, and 58-metre Cape Class patrol boats that are in service with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.
Faster than the previous Pacific Class patrol boats, with improved seakeeping, better amenities, and an enhanced mission capability – including an integrated RHIB stern launch and recovery system – the Guardian Class patrol boat provides Kiribati with another effective naval asset to carry out border patrols, regional policing, search and rescue, and many other operations domestically and internationally.
