In brief
Austal Limited says its Australian operation has delivered the 21st Guardian-class Patrol Boat to the Australian Department of Defence. The vessel, named Te Mataili III, was accepted by the Commonwealth and then gifted to Tuvalu at a ceremony at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia on October 16, 2024. It replaces Te Mataili II, which was damaged beyond economic repair during cyclones in 2023. Austal says the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project now covers 24 vessels and is valued at more than A$400 million. The company also reports that the project supports 200 direct jobs and more than 200 indirect jobs nationally, and that the boats achieve over 60% Australian Industry Content.
Key takeaways
- Austal Australia delivered Te Mataili III, the 21st Guardian-class Patrol Boat, to the Australian Department of Defence.
- The vessel was gifted to Tuvalu after its acceptance by the Commonwealth of Australia.
- Austal says the replacement project covers 24 vessels and is valued at more than A$400 million.
- The company reports project support for 200 direct jobs and more than 200 indirect jobs nationally.
Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX: ASB) is pleased to announce Austal Australia has delivered the 21st Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence.
October 18, 2024 -- The vessel, Te Mataili III, was officially accepted by the Commonwealth of Australia by The Honourable Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans Affairs, and then gifted to the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu, represented by Prime Minister, The Honourable Feleti Teo, at a handover ceremony held at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia on 16th October 2024.
Te Mataili III replaces Te Mataili II, a Guardian-class Patrol Boat that was gifted to Tuvalu in 2019 and operated successfully until damaged beyond economic repair during twin cyclones that hit Vanuatu in 2023.
Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg said the delivery of the 21st Guardian-class patrol boat continued to highlight the efficiency of the Austal Australia team, delivering the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project for the Commonwealth of Australia.
“Austal Australia has now delivered 21 Guardian-class Patrol Boats in just five years, which is a fantastic achievement and great demonstration of the capability and efficiency of the Western Australian naval shipbuilding industry,” Mr Gregg said.
“For five years now, we have been collaborating successfully with our supply chain and project partners (including the Department of Defence), industry stakeholders and Royal Australian Navy to deliver this important, sovereign capability-building project for Australia and our Pacific Island neighbours.
“Our thanks yet again to everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to the success of the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project,” Mr Gregg added.
The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project 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 Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project continues to support 200 direct jobs at Austal Australia and more than 200 indirect jobs nationally, through Australian businesses contracted by Austal.
Through close collaboration with supply chain partners and the Department of Defence, Austal is achieving over 60% Australian Industry Content on the Guardian-class Patrol Boats and helping to build the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise and Australia’s sovereign capability.
The 39.5 metre steel monohull patrol boat – designed, constructed and sustained by Austal Australia – is based on a proven 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. 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 – the Guardian-class Patrol Boat provides Tuvalu with another effective naval asset to carry out border patrols, regional policing, search and rescue, and many other operations domestically and internationally.
END
Austal Australia has delivered the 21st Guardian-class Patrol Boat ‘Te Mataili III’ to the Department of Defence under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project SEA3036-1. The vessel was then gifted by the Australian Government, represented by Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans Affairs, The Hon Matt Keogh MP, to Tuvalu, represented by Prime Minister The Honourable Feleti Teo at a ceremony held at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia on 16 October 2024 (Image credit: Office of Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans Affairs)
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Further Information
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Fax: 61 8 9410 2564
Email: [email protected]
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Questions around this news
What kinds of operations can Te Mataili III support?
The release says the patrol boat is intended to support Tuvalu’s border patrols, regional policing, search and rescue, and other operations at home and abroad. It also highlights the vessel’s improved seakeeping, amenities and mission capability compared with earlier Pacific-class patrol boats, including a system for launching and recovering a small boat from the stern.
Why was Te Mataili III gifted to Tuvalu?
The release describes the vessel as part of Australia’s Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, which provides patrol boats to Pacific Island neighbours. Te Mataili III replaces Tuvalu’s Te Mataili II, which was damaged beyond economic repair during cyclones that struck Vanuatu in 2023. The new boat was formally accepted by Australia and then gifted to Tuvalu.
What does monohull mean in ship design?
A monohull is a vessel built around one main hull, the body that floats in the water. This distinguishes it from multihull designs, such as catamarans, which have two or more hulls. Hull form affects factors such as stability, available space and how a vessel moves through waves; the best design depends on its intended use.
What is an RHIB stern launch and recovery system?
An RHIB is a rigid-hulled inflatable boat: a small craft with a firm hull and buoyant inflatable tubes around its sides. A stern launch and recovery system lets a larger vessel deploy and retrieve the smaller boat from its rear. This can support missions that require crew to operate away from the patrol vessel.
Earlier from Austal Limited
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- AUSTAL REPORTS IMPROVED EBIT OF $56.5 MILLION IN FY2024, WITH ORDER BOOK WORTH UP TO $12.7 BILLION
- Austal USA awarded contract modification for two additional Landing Craft Utility (LCU) for US Navy
- AUSTAL AUSTRALIA DELIVERS 20TH GUARDIAN CLASS PATROL BOAT
- AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT ORDERS AN ADDITIONAL TWO GUARDIAN-CLASS PATROL BOATS FOR PACIFIC MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM
