Perth international shipbuilder Austal has delivered the 17th Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence, which was then gifted to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force.
The new Guardian-class patrol boat is the fourth of four vessels to be gifted to Papua New Guinea under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, some portion of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.
The operation was attended by Australia’s Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans Affairs, Matt Keogh, and Papua New Guinea Minister for Defence, The Hon. Win Bakri Daki MP.
Austal Restricted CEO, Paddy Gregg said the most recent Guardian class Patrol Boat finishes the armada of new vessels for Papua New Guinea, with the past three vessels, Ted Diro, Rochus Lokinap and Francis Agwi conveyed in December 2018, March 2021 and October 2021 separately.
“Papua New Guinea now has four Guardian-class Patrol Boats that have added greater capability to the Navy, strengthened Papua New Guinea’s maritime domain and are actively contributing to regional maritime security,” Gregg said.
The most recent vessel is quicker than the previous Pacific-class patrol boats, with improved seakeeping, better conveniences, and an upgraded mission capacity – including an incorporated RHIB stern launch and recuperation system.
The 39.5-meter steel monohull watch boat – built and supported by Austal Australia – depends on a displayed design platform that has incorporated the 38-meter Bay-class, 56-meter Armidale-class and 58-meter Cape-class watch boats that are in help with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Naval force.