Austal Australia has successfully launched Hull 812, the second of six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy.
The ship was launched at the company’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia by
Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP.
Austal won the A$324 million contract for the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat Program (SEA1445-1) in May 2020.
Under the contract for six 58-metre Evolved Cape-class Patrol vessels, Austal Australia has directly employed approximately 400 people in Henderson, Western Australia and hundreds more through supply chain partners across Australia.
“I’m proud to say the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat Project for the Royal Australian Navy is progressing at pace. We will be handing over the First of Class in March, with follow-on vessels delivered every 4 months thereafter,” said Austal Limited Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg in a media release.
“Our hardworking Austal team and supply chain partners continue to achieve greater efficiencies and productivity, working together with the Department of Defence to provide new capability in support of the Navy’s operational requirements and further develop the National Shipbuilding Enterprise.”
According to Mr Gregg, Austal Australia will deliver a total of nine naval ships to the Commonwealth of Australia in 2022.
The contract for the Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats was the largest contract for an Australian vessel construction program ever awarded to Austal in the Company’s 30-year history.
If everything goes according to the company’s initial plan, the rest Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats should be manufactured and delivered by the end of 2023.
“This is a great day for WA’s defence industry. Today marks another important milestone in the Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan – further strengthening our sovereign defence industry capability and delivering the largest regeneration of our naval fleet since the Second World War,” said Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon. Andrew Hastie MP.
“I was pleased to launch this vessel today. Building these vessels here in Western Australia means a stronger defence force that will protect our borders and our national security interests and create long-term local jobs.”
