The Australian Government Department of Defense announced on Friday that the Royal Australian Navy has taken delivery of its first improved Cape-class patrol boat.
According to a press release, the new patrol vessel will strengthen Australia’s naval capabilities while providing greater reliability and efficiency for RAN’s patrol force to keep the nation’s borders safe.
Defense Minister Peter Dutton said the Cape Otway takeover was a major milestone in the overall contract under which Austal Ships will deliver five more ships to the Royal Australian Navy.
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“These six ships will enhance the Navy’s existing patrol vessel capabilities as we await the commissioning of newer and larger Arafura-class offshore patrol boats,” said Mr. Dutton.
“The Cape-class patrol boat project developed is one of three active naval shipbuilding projects in WA. Worth around $343 million, it directly supports around 550 jobs in Australia.
“The new patrol boats will also be the first to be serviced at the Northeast Regional Maintenance Center, in Cairns.”
To coincide with the acceptance of the first ECCPB, Vice Admiral Mike Noonan revealed the names of six new ships.
Vice Admiral Noonan said: “Each name continues the lineage of Cape-class patrol boats, all of which are named after important headlands around Australia.
“The first ship, the Australian Defense Vessel Cape Otway, will be docked at HMAS Cairns in mid-2022.
“Based on the CCPB ship design in service, the Australian Defense Force Vessel Cape Otway will feature a number of enhancements to further expand its capabilities over its sister Cape-class patrol vessel operated by the Australian Border Force. and two ships operated by the Navy. ”
Cape Otway’s commanding officer, Lieutenant James Thompson, said it was an honor to be selected as the first commanding officer to put a new platform into service.
“I look forward to the opportunity to take full advantage of the greater capabilities the CCPB has to offer,” said Lt. Col. Thompson.
“I am incredibly proud of the resilience and doable attitude my crew showed while being separated from loved ones. There is still a significant way to go but I am confident in my ability to get the job done.”
Deploying to WA in late January, Cape Otway crews have been busy conducting conversion training with Austal staff to help them take over the platform. They will remain in WA until a Marines skills assessment in May, after which they will move back to Cairns, where Cape Otway is based.
The remaining boats are being built at the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia and the final boat is expected to be delivered in May 2023.
