Australia receives third Austal Cape-class patrol vessel

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) has taken delivery of the third of eight Cape-class patrol boats (CCPB), Cape Nelson, from Austal, which would bolster the agency’s maritime security efforts.

Built as part of a $330m design, build and in-service support contract awarded in August 2011, the new patrol boat is aimed at delivering improved range, endurance and flexibility in response to maritime security threats, while bolstering operations in vital long range sea conditions.

The contract also involves provision of eight-year in-service support, which includes full range of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities.

Austal chief executive officer Andrew Bellamy said: "Our team at the Henderson shipyard have again demonstrated their ability to meet contracted timeframes. Delivering on time ensures that the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service can reliably continue to deliver on the Border Protection obligations it undertakes to the Commonwealth of Australia.

"The on time delivery of Cape Nelson and continued efficiencies across the programme further reinforces Austal’s capability to reliably build and sustain naval and border protection vessels."

Designed to replace ACBPS’ ageing fleet of Bay-class patrol boats, the Cape-class patrol boats can be deployed across the Australian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to perform a range of security and surveillance operations.

Capable of undertaking 28 day patrols and sail 4,000nm before being refuelling, the CCPBs can also combat the full range of maritime security threats; carry more crew to more effectively and safely manage boarding operations; and launch two tender response vessels at the same time.

The fleet can also carry out missions such as thwarting unauthorised maritime access, piracy, maritime terrorism, marine pollution, illegal foreign fishing, unlawful import or export and illegal activity in protected areas.

All the eight vessels under the contract are scheduled to be delivered by 2018.

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Image: Austal’s third Cape Class Patrol Boat. Photo: courtesy of Austal.