Patrol boats for NW shelf

TWO navy patrol boats, to be named Glenelg and Maryborough will be built at Fremantle and then based at Dampier to protect the North West shelf.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said today that the boats will be built at Austal’s Henderson shipyard near Fremantle by Austal and the Defence Maritime Services.

Dr Nelson said the two new Armidale class patrol boats were announced as part of the government’s policy for securing Australia’s North West Shelf region.

He said approval for naming of the new vessels had now been given by Governor-General Michael Jeffery.