The Australian defense ministry has taken delivery of the first evolved Cape class patrol boat built for the Australian Navy by Austal.
The new Capes will be joining the original ten units already in service with the navy and the Australian Border Force, strengthening Australia’s naval capability.
The country’s defense minister Peter Dutton said this was another significant milestone in the overall contract with Austal to deliver a total of six evolved Cape class patrol boats to the Royal Australian Navy.
“The six vessels will boost navy’s current patrol boat capability as we await the introduction into service of the newer and larger Arafura class offshore patrol vessels. We are now one boat closer to establishing that vital capability.
“The evolved Cape class patrol boat project is one of three active naval shipbuilding projects underway in Western Australia. Worth approximately $343 million.
“The new patrol boats will also be the first vessels to be maintained at Regional Maintenance Centre North East, in Cairns. This further develops sovereign sustainment capability and promotes Australian industry involvement,” minister Dutton said.
To coincide with the acceptance of the first evolved Cape class patrol boat, Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, revealed the names of the six new vessels.
“They will be named Australian Defence Vessels (ADV) Cape Otway, Cape Peron, Cape Naturaliste, Cape Capricorn, Cape Woolamai and Cape Pillar.
“Each name continues the lineage of the Cape class patrol boats, all named after significant Capes around Australia.
The first of the Evolved Cape-class units, ADV Cape Otway, will be home-ported at HMAS Cairns by mid-2022. It will be joined by another evolved Cape class patrol boat and four Arafura class offshore patrol vessels by the end of 2028.
The second of the six evolved Cape class patrol boats will be formally accepted in July this year, the defense ministry said.
The remaining boats are under construction at Henderson shipyard in Western Australia and the final boat is expected to be delivered by May 2023.
