Austal Delivers Patrol Boat Early

Austal has delivered the second of eight Cape Class Patrol Boats being supplied to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service under a $330 million design, build and in-service support contract.

Cape Byron was delivered four weeks ahead of its original delivery date.

Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said: “Our team at the Henderson shipyard worked hard and intelligently to meet Customs’ request to advance delivery of Cape Byron to increase the capability of the border protection fleet. It was a great achievement that we were able to deliver Cape Byron ahead of the original timeline while implementing efficiency identified during construction of the first-in-class Cape Class vessel.”

The remaining six Cape Class vessels are at various stages of construction and will be delivered progressively through to August 2015, in line with the contract.

Austal was awarded the contract for the design, construction and through-life support of the Cape Class patrol boats for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in August 2011. The eight 58 meter aluminum monohulls are due to be delivered between March 2013 and August 2015.

The support contract extends for a minimum period of eight years and encompasses a full range of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities. Further options can be exercised by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for In-Service Support for the life of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Fleet.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will have greater range, endurance and flexibility in responding to maritime security threats than the current fleet. These vessels will also have enhanced capability to operate in higher sea states and survive in more severe conditions.

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May 21, 2014