Austal Delivers Final Cape Class Patrol Boat

Cape York, the last of eight new Cape Class Patrol Boats for Australian Border Force (formerly Australian Customs and Border Protection) has been delivered by shipbuilder Austal Limited under a $330 million design, build and in-service support contract.

Austal was awarded the contract for eight Cape Class 58-meter aluminum monohull patrol boats in August 2011.

Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said all eight Cape Class Patrol Boats have been delivered on-time and on-budget from the shipbuilder’s team at Henderson shipyard.

“Austal has delivered one Cape Class Patrol vessel approximately every 10 weeks over 2014-2015; which has significantly increased Australian Border Force’s capability to reliably deliver on the Border Protection obligations it undertakes for the Commonwealth of Australia, ” Bellamy said.

“Our national sustainment team, services and facilities continues to grow in line with the Cape Class Patrol Boats coming into service; ensuring the operational availability of the Australian Border Force fleet around the country.”

As the sole provider of the Commonwealth’s border patrol capability for the past 17 years and as a successful exporter, Austal has now delivered a total of 72 patrol boats. The company has recently submitted a tender for the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Program, comprising 21 vessels for delivery to Pacific Island nations from 2017.