Austal delivers new Guardian-class patrol boat to Australia

Austal Australia has delivered the 19th Guardian-class patrol boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence.

The vessel, RFNS Puamau, was then gifted by the Australian Government to the Republic of Fiji Navy at a handover ceremony held at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.

RFNS Puamau is the first of four Guardian-class Patrol Boats scheduled for delivery by Austal’s Western Australian shipyards in CY2024.

The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2016, with subsequent, contract options awarded in April 2018 and November 2022 taking the project to 22 vessels, valued at more than A$350 million, in total.

Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Timor-Leste are receiving vessels.

The 39.5-metre steel monohull patrol boat – designed, constructed and sustained by Austal Australia – is based on a design platform that has included the 38-metre Bay-class, 56-metre Armidale-class and 58-metre Cape-class patrol boats that are in service with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.

The new boats are faster than the previous Pacific-class patrol boats, with improved seakeeping, better amenities, and an enhanced mission capability, including an integrated RHIB stern launch and recovery system.

Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said RFNS Puamau was the second Guardian-class patrol boat to be delivered to the Republic of Fiji under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1).

“The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project is a successful program that continues to highlight Western Australia’s naval shipbuilding capability, effective defence industry collaboration and the vital, ongoing support delivered by the Royal Australian Navy’s Sea Training Group with every Guardian-class Patrol Boat,” Gregg said.

“Puamau, and her sister ship Savenaca, are great examples of Australian naval shipbuilding capability, that draws upon the skills and expertise of not only the Austal team, but hundreds of supply chain partners, and the training support of the Royal Australian Navy in Western Australia.”

“Savenaca has already proven to be an invaluable addition to the Republic of Fiji Navy, undertaking successful missions throughout Fiji’s territorial waters since 2020, including combined maritime patrol and interoperability training with the Royal Australian Navy, in 2022.”