Tag Archives: Austal Australia

Navy

Patrol Boat

Austal Limited (Austal) is pleased to announce Austal Australia has delivered the first of six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats (ECCPB’s) to the Royal Australian Navy.

ADV Cape Otway (314)
Austal Australia has delivered the first Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat to the Royal Australian Navy. The vessel was accepted in Henderson, Western Australia by Minister for Defence the Hon Peter Dutton MP (Photo: Austal)

The vessel, ADV Cape Otway, was officially accepted and named by the Minister for Defence, The Hon. Peter Dutton MP at a ceremony held at Austal’s Henderson, Western Australia, shipyard. He was accompanied by the Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO, and Head of Maritime Systems, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group, Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm CSM.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony, Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Mr. Paddy Gregg said the first Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat to be delivered reflects the collective skills, teamwork and capability of the national naval shipbuilding enterprise.

«Sheds don’t build ships, people do. And it’s great to celebrate today with representatives from Austal, the Department of Defence, our proud supply chain partners and many more businesses in the defence industry across Australia», Mr. Gregg said. «This first Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat was a true team effort, drawing on the expertise, drive and commitment of hundreds of talented people who are fundamentally contributing to the national security of this country. Apprentices, university graduates, trainees, tradespeople and professionals; we’re not just building patrol boats, we’re designing and constructing (and indeed, sustaining) naval assets that are keeping Australia’s border secure».

The 58-metre/190-foot aluminium monohull patrol boat is the first of six to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy under a A$324 million contract awarded to Austal Australia in May 2020. With greater capability than the benchmark Cape-class Patrol Boats, the Evolved Capes feature new, larger amenities to accommodate up to 32 people, improved quality of life systems and advanced sustainment intelligence systems that will further enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s ability to fight and win at sea.

The vessel was constructed in approximately 18 months, employing approximately 400 people directly in Western Australia, and engaging more than 300 supply chain partners across Australia. In 2022, Austal Australia is scheduled to deliver an unprecedented 9 new naval ships to the Commonwealth of Australia, including four Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy (SEA1445-1) and five Guardian-class Patrol Boats to the Department of Defence under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1).

This ASX announcement has been approved and authorised for release by Paddy Gregg, Austal Limited’s Chief Executive Officer.

Navy

Cape-class Patrol Boat

Austal Australia has welcomed Assistant Minister for Defence, The Honorable Andrew Hastie MP, to officially launch the second of six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Cape-class Patrol Boat
Austal Australia has successfully launched the second of six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy at the company’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia (Image: Austal)

The 58-metre/190-foot aluminium monohull patrol boat was launched following 18 months of construction at the company’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said it was very fitting that the Assistant Minister for Defence officially launched the vessel, which is one of nine naval ships to be delivered to the Commonwealth of Australia by Austal this calendar year.

«I’m proud to say the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat Project for the Royal Australian Navy is progressing at pace. We will be handing over the First of Class in March, with follow-on vessels delivered every 4 months thereafter. Our hardworking Austal team and supply chain partners continue to achieve greater efficiencies and productivity, working together with the Department of Defence to provide new capability in support of the Navy’s operational requirements and further develop the National Shipbuilding Enterprise», Mr. Gregg said.

«The Evolved Capes for the Royal Australian Navy is just one of two major naval shipbuilding projects Austal is continuing to deliver this year – the second is the Guardian-class. In total, Austal Australia is going to deliver an unprecedented nine naval ships to the Commonwealth of Australia in 2022», he added.

Assistant Minister for Defence, the Honorable Andrew Hastie MP said the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats were a vital capability that would be used by Navy to continue to secure our borders and protect Australia’s sovereignty at sea.

«This is a great day for WA’s defence industry. Today marks another important milestone in the Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan – further strengthening our sovereign defence industry capability and delivering the largest regeneration of our naval fleet since the second world war», Assistant Minister Hastie said. «I was pleased to launch this vessel today. Building these vessels here in Western Australia means a stronger defence force that will protect our borders and our national security interests and create long-term local jobs».

The new Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy include several enhancements that further extend the capability of the proven vessel and the fleet; with modifications developed through the in-service experience of ten Cape-class Patrol Boats already operating with the Navy and Australian Border Force throughout Northern Australia.

The A$324 million contract for the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat Program (SEA1445-1), comprising six 58-metre/190-foot vessels, was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2020 and has directly employed approximately 400 people in Henderson, Western Australia and hundreds more through supply chain partners across Australia.