Construction on ACBPS’s fifth CCPB moves ahead

Austal has conducted keel-laying ceremony of the fifth Cape Class Patrol Boat (CCPB), Cape Jervis, marking final assembly of modules.

Austal is designing, building and supporting a total of eight 56m-long CCPBs for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) as part of a contract signed in August 2011.

Austal programme manager Ben Wardle said the second CCPB, Cape Byron, was successfully launched last week, four weeks ahead of schedule.

"The Cape Class Patrol Boat Program was a successful collaboration that in a short space of time had taken the program from only one vessel in production to now six vessels in production," Wardle added.

"All this is supported by a workforce, including additional apprentices, that has increased by over 100 in recent months with the program now more than half way through the construction phase."

Capable of providing greater range, endurance and flexibility in responding to maritime security threats, the vessels provide enhanced capability to operate in more severe sea conditions and across longer range.

The CCPBs can undertake 28 day patrols, sail 4,000nm before having to refuel, combat the full range of maritime security threats, carry an increased crew to more effectively and safely manage boarding operations and launch two tender response vessels simultaneously.

In addition to assist management of offshore nature reserves and marine parks, the boats can counter people, drug and weapons smuggling; apprehend foreign fishing vessels; gather information and intelligence; and monitor environmental pollution.