Tag Archives: Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat

Navy

Woolamai

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

ADV Cape Woolamai (318)
Austal Australia has delivered the fifth Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat, ADV Cape Woolamai (318) to the Royal Australian Navy (Photo: Austal)

The vessel, ADV Cape Woolamai (318) was officially accepted by the Commonwealth of Australia on 22 June 2023.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer, Paddy Gregg said the delivery of the fifth Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat again highlights Austal’s proven shipbuilding capabilities, efficiency and productivity from the Henderson, Western Australia shipyard.

«With the delivery of every Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat, Austal is demonstrating the capacity, capability, and expertise to construct naval vessels for Australia to the highest quality, efficiently. This latest vessel, the ADV Cape Woolamai (318), is the fifth we have delivered in just 15 months. We’re launching and delivering a new patrol boat every three months, following approximately 12 months construction. Austal’s highly skilled and efficient local production team, supported by our trusted supply chain partners, are achieving outstanding productivity in the delivery of the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat Project for the Royal Australian Navy. We remain on track to deliver all eight Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats on schedule, in mid-2024 and thank the Commonwealth again for their trust in our team to deliver this great capability for Australia», Mr. Gregg added.

The 58-metre/190-foot aluminium monohull patrol boat is the fifth of eight to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy since the project commenced in May 2020. The first four Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats, ADV Cape Otway (314), ADV Cape Peron (315), ADV Cape Naturaliste (316), and ADV Cape Capricorn (317) were delivered within a twelve-month period, from March 2022. The sixth Evolved Cape-class patrol Boat, the ADV Cape Pillar (319), was launched at the company’s Henderson, Western Australia shipyard earlier this month.

The Evolved Capes feature new, larger amenities to accommodate up to 32 people, improved quality of life systems and advanced sustainment intelligence systems that further enhance the Royal Australian Navy’s ability to fight and win at sea. The patrol boats will be utilised for a wide variety of constabulary and naval missions and play a critical role in Australia’s national security, as a high-performing, reliable and effective maritime asset.

Austal Australia continues to employ approximately 400 people (directly) in Western Australia and is engaging more than 300 supply chain partners across Australia, to deliver the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat Project (SEA1445-1) for the Royal Australian Navy.

In-service support for the Cape, Evolved Cape and Guardian-class Patrol Boat fleets operated by the Australian Border Force, Royal Australian Navy and Pacific Island nations is provided by Austal Australia through dedicated service centres located in Henderson, Western Australia; Cairns, Queensland; and Darwin, Northern Territory.

Austal Australia is also contracted to deliver 22 steel Guardian-class Patrol Boats to the Commonwealth of Australia under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1) and has delivered 15 vessels since 2018.

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

Navy

Patrol Boats

Austal Limited on 18 April, 2022 welcomed the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, to the company’s Henderson Western Australia shipyard, where he announced the Department of Defence will order an additional two Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats (ECCPB’s) for the Royal Australian Navy, for $124 million.

ECCPB
The first Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat, ADV Cape Otway (314) was delivered to the Australian Department of Defence and Royal Australian Navy on 23 March 2022 (Image: Austal Australia)

Prime Minister Morrison was joined for the announcement at Austal by Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP; Assistance Minister for Defence the Hon Andrew Hastie MP; Attorney General Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash; President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Slade Brockman and Liberal Candidate for the seat of Fremantle, Mr. Bill Koul.

The two new vessels are in addition to the six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats that are currently being delivered by Austal Australia for the Royal Australian Navy.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said: «We are incredibly proud to be supporting the Royal Australian Navy by providing and enhancing fleet capability; working in collaboration with the Department of Defence and Industry partners. This announcement for additional Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats further strengthens and supports Australian sovereign shipbuilding capability and provides Austal, and our outstanding supply chain partners, with a level of continuity that will provide stability and security for the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise. Austal will also continue to invest and develop our facilities in Henderson to ensure we have the capability and capacity for the future programme of work the Prime Minister has previously announced. Last month Austal delivered the first of the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats, the ADV Cape Otway (314), in less than 2 years; overcoming the many challenges that materialised as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to continuing at pace, with all eight Evolved Cape Patrol Boats to be delivered through to 2024, providing long-term commitments to our supply chain partners in the Australian Shipbuilding Industry».

The Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat is an evolution of Austal’s proven Cape-class Patrol Boat platform, first developed for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (now Australian Border Force) in 2013. With eight Capes delivered to the ABF over 2013-2015 and an additional two Capes delivered to the Royal Australian Navy in 2017, there are now ten Cape-class Patrol Boats operating around Australia. In 2021, Austal Australia delivered a further two Cape-class Patrol Boats to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard – the first exports of a vessel class which has become a benchmark for offshore patrol capability around the world.

Based on the original 58-metre/190-foot aluminium monohull design, the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats include several enhancements that further extend the capability of the vessel and the fleet. Crew capacity has been increased by 10 people, to now total 32 and quality-of-life provisions have been enhanced, ensuring those who operate the new vessels have connectivity to the outside world, regardless of the operating environment.

The Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats will be utilised for a wide variety of constabulary and naval missions and play a critical role in Australia’s national security, as a high-performing, reliable and effective maritime asset for the Royal Australian Navy.

In addition to the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat Project (SEA1445-1), Austal Australia is also currently delivering 21 Guardian-class Patrol Boats for the Australian Department of Defence under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1), with 14 patrol boats delivered since 2018.

Austal provides in-service support to both the Cape and Guardian-class Patrol Boat fleets through dedicated service centres located in Henderson, Western Australia; Cairns, Queensland; and Darwin, Northern Territory.

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

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.