The Australian government has signed a contract with Austal to build and sustain up to 21 steel-hulled vessels to replace the existing fleet of Pacific Patrol Boats as part of Australia’s new Pacific Maritime Security Program.
Austal was previously selected as preferred bidder for the contract. Now, as part of the $280 million contract, Austal will design and construct the first 19 vessels in Henderson, Western Australia.
Two vessels have also been offered to a new member of the program, Timor-Leste, with an option for these additional vessels to be constructed by Austal at an agreed fixed price should Timor-Leste accept the offer.
Austal has also been awarded a $24 million contract to provide support services to the replacement vessels for an initial seven-year period. The total investment in support and sustainment of the vessels, including the conduct of deep maintenance in Cairns, Queensland, is estimated at more than $400 million across the life of the vessels.
Construction of the new vessels will commence in mid-2017, with the first vessel to be delivered in late 2018.
The existing fleet of Pacific patrol boats is approaching its end of service life, and will be replaced with a fleet of new Australian-built vessels to assist their Pacific Island partners in securing their extensive exclusive economic zones.