Austal Australia has launched the 6th Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat for the Royal Australian Navy.

• By Austal Australia - Media Source
• Jun 07, 2023

Austal Australia has launched the 6th Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat, the future ADV Cape Pillar, for the Royal Australian Navy.

The vessel, Austal Hull 816, was launched at the Henderson, Western Australia shipyard following 12 months of construction and just over 3 months after the launch of the 5th ECCPB, the future ADV Cape Woolamai, in February 2023.

Austal Australia is proud to be engaging over 300 suppliers from Western Australia and across the nation to help construct the eight Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats on order from Defence Australia.

With four Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats delivered since May 2020, and the fifth on schedule for delivery later this month, Austal continues to demonstrate a track record of success and genuine capability to deliver major defence projects for Australia.

The Cape-class Patrol Boat (Austal Patrol 58) is a benchmark naval vessel, designed and constructed by Austal Australia, performing multiple roles for border force, coast guard and naval fleets located in Australia and the Caribbean. 

The striking 58.1 metre, aluminium mono-hull patrol boats are able to:

1. Undertake 28 day patrols, in conditions up to Sea State 4;
2. Sail 4,000 nautical miles before having to refuel;
3. Combat the full range of maritime security threats;
4. Carry a larger crew to more effectively and safely manage boarding operations;
5. Identify, track and intercept an extended range of threats in the maritime domain and gather intelligence and store evidence for matters that may proceed to the courts; and
6. Launch two Tender Response Vessels simultaneously.

AUSTRALIAN BORDER FORCE

Eight Cape-class Patrol Boats, for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (now Australian Border Force) were constructed and delivered from 2012 to 2015 (Austal hulls 361-368);

1. ABFC Cape St George
2. ABFC Cape Byron
3. ABFC Cape Nelson
4. ABFC Cape Sorell
5. ABFC Cape Jervis
6. ABFC Cape Leveque
7. ABFC Cape Wessel
8. ABFC Cape York

The vessels are deployed by the Australian Border Force to;

1. Counter people, drug and weapons smuggling;
2. Apprehend foreign fishing vessels;
3. Gather information and intelligence;
4. Monitor environmental pollution; and
5. Assist management of offshore nature reserves and marine parks.

• Tags
• # Defence Ship