According to a press release published by Austal Limited (Austal) on August 2, 2021, the firm is pleased to announce Austal Australia has delivered the 12th Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) to the Australian Department of Defence.
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12th Guardian-class Patrol Boat RVS Takuare (Picture source: Austal)
The vessel, the RVS Takuare, was then gifted by the Australian Government to the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu at a certificate signing ceremony held at the Australian Marine Complex, in Henderson, Western Australia.
The vessel is the first Guardian-class Patrol Boat to be delivered to Vanuatu under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1), part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program; and replaces the RVS Tukoro, a Pacific-class Patrol Boat delivered in 1987.
Faster, with improved seakeeping, better amenities and an enhanced mission capability – including an integrated RHIB stern launch and recovery system – the Guardian-class Patrol Boats provide the Vanuatu Police Maritime Wing with a much improved naval asset to carry out border patrols, regional policing, search and rescue, and many other operations domestically and internationally.
The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) Project was awarded to Austal in May 2016, with an additional contract option awarded in April 2018, taking the program to 21 vessels, valued at more than A$335 million.
The Guardian-class patrol boats are a class of small patrol vessels designed and built in Australia for small Pacific Ocean countries.
The vessels are 39.5 metres (129 ft 7 in) long, steel monohull design, capable of traveling 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), with a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).They are designed to berth a complement of 23 crew members. They will have a stern launching ramp for a pursuit boat. Austal deliver the vessels without armament, but they were designed to be capable of mounting an autocannon of up to 30 millimetres (1.2 in) on their foredeck, and a heavy machine gun on either side of their bridge.
The vessel's twin diesel engines can provide 4,000 kilowatts (5,400 shp). Sophisticated electronic engine controls will help conserve fuel.
