Tag: Pacific Patrol Boat

Austal Delivers Third Guardian Class Patrol Boat

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June 24, 2019 – AUSTAL today reports the on-time delivery of the third Guardian Class Patrol Boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence. In a handover ceremony with the Crown Prince of Tonga, His Royal Highness, Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, the Commonwealth, represented by Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon. Alex Hawke MP gifted the vessel to the Government of Tonga. “This is the third of 21 Guardian Class that Austal has designed and built for the Commonwealth’s Pacific Maritime Security Program. We are very proud to be delivering this…

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New PNG Patrol Boat Ready to Serve

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December 23, 2018 – One week after being handed over from Australia to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, NUSHIP Ted Diro has passed its initial sea-readiness evaluation with support from Navy’s Sea Training Unit – Defence Cooperation Program. Commander Sea Training Defence Cooperation Program, Captain John Cowan, said Ted Diro’s ship’s company had been put through a comprehensive training program that culminated in a whole ship evaluation before sailing for Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea via Darwin. “The training has specifically focused on mariner skills to ensure that the…

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Pacific Patrol Boat former HMPNGS Rabaul completes final voyage

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October 22, 2018 – Yesterday marked the end of an era for former HMPNGS Rabaul, which has completed its final voyage to Port Macquarie from Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, after 31 years of service with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. The patrol boat was gifted to Papua New Guinea in May 1987 under the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, which ultimately delivered 22 vessels to Pacific Island nations. Papua New Guinea received four Pacific Patrol Boats, which have been the bedrock of successful Australia-Papua New Guinea maritime security…

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Austal Celebrates 30 Years by Commencing First of Class PPB-R Trials

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August 9, 2019 – Austal today celebrated 30 years of successfully delivering shipbuilding programs by commencing the sea trials for the first Guardian Class, Pacific Patrol Boat. The PPB-R program will see 21 Austal designed and built patrol boats gifted by the Commonwealth to the Pacific Island Nations. “We could not have had a better way to celebrate Austal’s 30th birthday, then by successfully meeting another milestone in the PPB-R program. The PPB-R program is a reflection of Austal’s 30 years in designing and building next-generation technologically advanced vessels. As…

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Austal Launches First of PPB-R

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Austal Limited (Austal) announced May 29th that the first of 21 Guardian Class, Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB-R) has been launched just two years after the contract was awarded, keeping with the schedule and budget for the project. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to Papua New Guinea in late October 2018. “Austal is proud to be delivering the PPB-R program for the Commonwealth. This is the first steel ship program we have managed and we are doing so on time and on budget” Austal CEO, David Singleton said. “It…

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Forging ties in Tonga

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Since the 1960s, Australia has undertaken a range of capacity-building and engagement activities in the South Pacific and South East Asia under the Defence Cooperation Program. The centrepiece of Australia’s defence engagement in the South Pacific is the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. Lieutenant Commander Paul Ryan has been presiding over significant improvements in Tonga’s Masefield Navy Base, As well as carrying out his usual duties as a maritime surveillance adviser. Lieutenant Commander Ryan, who has been in Tonga for eight months, said the improvements were being carried out to support…

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Austals Cuts Steel on First Pacific Patrol Boat

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April 26, 2017 – Austal today welcomed the Minister for Defence Industries, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, to cut the first steel plate for the first of nineteen Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) vessels for the Commonwealth of Australia. Austal CEO Mr David Singleton said the plate-cutting was not only the start of construction for the A$306 million Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement project, but also the Australian Government’s A$89 billion Continuous Naval Shipbuilding Program. “Austal is incredibly proud to be delivering the Commonwealth’s Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project.  Austal is…

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Austal’s New Pacific Patrol Boat Facility Opens

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March 8, 2017 – Austal has welcomed Australian Defence Industry Minister The Hon. Christopher Pyne MP to officially open the company’s new Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) Shipbuilding Facility in Naval Base, Western Australia and herald the commencement of Austal’s steel naval shipbuilding capability. Minister Pyne cut the red ribbon at the 10,500m² facility in front of key defence industry stakeholders, suppliers and partners from across Australia. Speaking at the official opening, Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said the PPB-R project is estimated to create up to 207 jobs…

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