The Australian Department of Defence has received the 15th Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) from Austal Australia.
The vessel, Te Kukupa II, was then gifted to the Cook Islands at a certificate signing ceremony held at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.
The new Guardian-class Patrol Boat replaces the original (and recently de-commissioned Te Kukupa), which was gifted to the Cook Islands in 1989 under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.
Designed, constructed, and sustained by Austal Australia, the 39.5 metre steel monohull patrol boat is based on a proven design platform that has included the 38 metre Bay-class, 56 metre Armidale-class and 58 metre Cape-class patrol boats that are in service with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.
Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg said the new vessel was the second of five Guardian-class Patrol Boats that Austal aims to deliver by the end of this year.
“We are well on track to deliver five, forty metre Guardians this calendar year – an outstanding achievement and a great demonstration of our collective industry and team’s capability and productivity in steel shipbuilding,” Mr Gregg said.
“The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project engages more than 300 suppliers from around Australia. Each one is helping to form the National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise that is delivering sovereign capability for Australia.
“Our warmest congratulations go to the Cook Islands Police Maritime Wing and we wish ‘fair winds and following seas’ to the Commanding Officer of Te Kukupa II, Tepaki Baxter and his crew.”
