Australian Customs Opt for Vestdavit

Vestdavit has been contracted by shipbuilder Austal to supply its state-of-theart PLAR-6500 davits to eight new Cape Class Patrol Boats (CCPBs) to be built for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Austal will build the 58.1 m Cape Class Patrol Boats at its shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia for delivery between March 2013 and August 2015. The patrol boats will play a significant role in protecting Australia’s borders from multiple maritime threats. They have been designed to have greater range, endurance and flexibility, as well as enhanced capability to operate in more severe sea conditions than the current Customs and Border Protection fleet.

 

The sixteen PLAR-6500 davits covered by the order perform an important role in the operational capability of the vessels. Made of lightweight aluminium and capable of lifting Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) of 6,500 kilos, the SOLAS-compliant, self-tensioned davits are fully equipped with the latest safety accessories, including shock absorbers, guiding rails, wire haulers, hydraulic end stops, and independent HPUs. Their advanced functionality ensures safe operation in rough weather conditions, and permits the safe deployment and recovery of boats at speed of up to 10 knots.