Vestdavit scores order for four davits for Australian evolved Cape-class OPVs

Norwegian davit supplier Vestdavit has landed a contract to deliver four davits for Australia’s evolved Cape-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).

As disclosed, the company will deliver four PLAR-6501 systems to be delivered to a pair of evolved Cape-class patrol vessels under construction at shipbuilder Austal Australia for the Royal Australian Navy.

The latest contract brings the number of PLAR davits supplied to the Cape and evolved Cape-class vessels for the Royal Australian Navy to a total of 20.

This PLAR-6501 model will be provided for hulls 819 and 820. It is an enhancement of the PLAR-6500 system, designed according to the DNV-0498 standard that includes fatigue analysis, according to Vestdavit.

The Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels are being deployed for a range of naval and law enforcement missions. The davits will be used for the aunch and recovery of fast rescue and interceptor craft to support such missions.

Austal is set to deliver a total of 10 evolved Cape-class vessels to the Royal Australian Navy, which represents an evolution of the previous Cape-class patrol boat, of which 10 such units were earlier delivered by the Australian shipbuilder to the Australian Border Force (8) and Royal Australian Navy (2). Another two Cape-class patrol vessels were delivered to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in 2021.

The modular PLAR davit, with a SWL range of 850-7000kg, is delivered pre-assembled and skid-mounted, with a compact size for ease of installation in confined spaces, Vestdavit noted. Despite its low weight and profile, this robust davit remains capable of efficient launch and recovery of boats in rough seas, it was concluded.

In August this year, Vestdavit landed a contract to deliver high-specification davits for six multi-purpose vessels to be built for the Canadian Coast Guard at Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver.