Austal Australia has delivered the 22nd Guardian-class patrol boat to Australian Department of Defense at a ceremony held at Henderson shipyard.
The vessel, RFNS Timo, was handed over to the Government of Fiji by the Australian Government, as part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program. The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA 3036-1) was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2016, with subsequent contract options awarded in April 2018, November 2022 and June 2024, taking the project to 24 vessels, valued at more than A$400 million, in total.
The program aims to enhance practical maritime security cooperation across the South Pacific and further strengthen the region’s capability to respond to issues such as fisheries protection, transnational crime, and search and rescue operations.
The Guardian-class patrol boat is 39.5 meters long with a beam of 8 meters and a loaded draft of 2.5 meters. It is capable of traveling at 20 knots and at 12 knots and possesses a 3,000 nautical mile range. Each vessel can accommodate 23 people.
The boats have been constructed at Austal’s dedicated Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Production Facility at Naval Base in Western Australia. The vessels are intended for twelve Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste.
In October this year, Austal handed over the 21 Guardian-class ship, Te Mataili III. The vessel was then delivered to the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu.
In July this year, Austal delivered the 20th Guardian-class patrol boat to Australia. The vessel, Tobwaan Mainiku, was gifted to the Republic of Kiribati.