Third Cape Class Patrol Boat Officially Named

Austal Limited is pleased to announce the third-in-series Cape Class Patrol Boat has been officially named Cape Nelson during a ceremony today at the Company’s Australian Defence Facility in Henderson, Western Australia.

Davyd Thomas, Austal Vice President Defence, presents Cape Nelson CO Tim Spencer the Builders Plaque.

Cape Nelson is the third of eight boats being provided by Austal for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) under a design, construct and in-service support contract. The vessel was launched at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in May 2014 and has since undergone final fit out, sea trials and was handed over to ACBPS in September. ACBPS are currently undertaking final crew training before the vessel enters operational service.

The naming ceremony was attended by Nigel Perry, acting DCEO Border Enforcement, and Ms Kelly Cartwright OAM, Australian Paralympian who officially named the vessel after Cape Nelson in her home state of Victoria.

Kenneth Saunders representing the Gunditj people of Cape Nelson in Victoria, CO Tim Spencer, Naming Lady Kelly Cartwright OAM and the crew of Cape Nelson.

Naming Lady Kelly Cartwright OAM and Kenneth Saunders take the helm of Cape Nelson with CO Tim Spencer and DCO Matt Jessup watching on.

During his address Austal Australia Vice President Defence, Davyd Thomas, said: “Over the last 26 years Austal has designed and manufactured more than 250 high quality commercial and defence vessels. The majority of them were designed and built here in Henderson. Each vessel has been an important ingredient of Austal Australia’s evolution as a Global Defence Prime Contractor; especially in developing and maintaining the intellectual property, design, manufacturing and sustainment capability that is now embodied in Cape Nelson; and indeed in other vessels Austal is currently producing and sustaining across the world. This in essence, is what Austal Australia is all about.

Cape Nelson epitomises the strength of our whole-of-business capability, and the skills and endeavour of every individual who has contributed in any way to reach today’s milestone. Congratulations to all those who have had a part to play in bringing this vessel to life and by extension, contributing to our border security and a safer Australia.”

Reverend Dennis Cloughton, Chaplain of the Seafarers Mission, undertaking a blessing of the ship and crew.

Nigel Perry, acting DCEO Border Enforcement said “The Cape Class represents an enormous improvement in capability over the current Bay Class patrol boats operated by Customs and Border Protection. They are significantly larger than our current Bay Class patrol boats. They have greater range, are faster, able to deploy for longer and have larger crews. Each vessel has a direct connection to Border Protection Command Headquarters in Canberra via the Australian Maritime Information System and can receive up to the minute tactical updates, images or video footage on contacts of interest. Overall they are much better equipped to deal with the threats encountered in our vast maritime domain now, and into the future.”

Cape Nelson is a state of the art maritime defence capability that will play a significant role in protecting Australia’s borders from multiple maritime threats. It has been designed to have greater range, endurance and flexibility - as well as enhanced capability to operate in more severe sea conditions and across longer range - than the current fleet of Customs and Border Protection vessels and indeed the Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boat fleet.

Cape Class is a program of work that underpins Austal’s strategy as a global defence prime contractor of Ships, Systems and Support. It is a Program that has also enabled Austal to reposition and strengthen its Henderson facilities as a defence-focused operation. Along with key intermediate and deep level sustainment activities being performed in Henderson on both Cape and Armidale Class vessels, this total solution capability represents the future of the Australian business as Austal continues to expand and enhance the strategic industry capability necessary to meet the current and future defence needs of Australia and other nations.

Apart from the Cape Class Patrol Boats, Austal is prime contractor for three major defence Programs: the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) Programs for the United States Navy and two High Speed Support Vessels (HSSV) for the Royal Navy of Oman.

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Project Background

Austal was awarded the contract for the design, construction and through-life support of the Cape Class patrol boats for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in August 2011. The eight 58 metre aluminium monohulls are due to be delivered between March 2013 and August 2015.

The support contract extends for a minimum period of eight years and encompasses a full range of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities. Further options can be exercised by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for In-Service Support for the life of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Fleet.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will have greater range, endurance and flexibility in responding to maritime security threats than the current fleet.

These vessels will also have enhanced capability to operate in higher sea states and survive in more severe conditions.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will be able to:

• Undertake 28 day patrols;
• Sail 4,000 nautical miles before having to refuel;
• Combat the full range of maritime security threats;
• Carry a larger crew to more effectively and safely manage boarding operations;
• 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
• Launch two Tender Response Vessels simultaneously.

Customs and Border Protection patrol boats may be deployed according to aerial surveillance, community reports and/or radar sightings.

They may be used to:

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

About Austal

Austal is a global defence prime contractor and a designer manufacturer of defence and commercial ships. For more than 25 years Austal has been a leader in the design, construction and maintenance of revolutionary ships for Governments, Navies and Ferry operators around the world. More than 250 vessels have been delivered in that time.

Ships

Defence vessels designed and built by Austal include multi-mission combatants, such as the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for the United States Navy and military high speed vessels for transport and humanitarian relief, such as the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) for the United States Navy and High Speed Support Vessel (HSSV) for the Royal Navy of Oman. Austal also designs, constructs, integrates and maintains an extensive range of patrol and auxiliary vessels for government agencies globally, including the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program for Australian Customs and Border Protection. Defence vessels are designed and constructed in Mobile, Alabama and in Henderson, Western Australia.

Austal has been at the forefront of the high speed ferry market since the early days of the industry. Our market leading designs of high performance aluminium vessels have long been at the heart of Austal’s research and development. Today, commercial ship construction is centred on our shipyard in Balamban, Philippines.

Systems

Austal has expertise in integrating complex systems into its ships, including ride control, ship management, and communication, sensors and weapon systems.

Support

Austal provides a wide range of support services, including through life support, integrated logistics support, vessel sustainment and systems support. These services are delivered through our global support network in the USA, Australia, Asia, the Caribbean and the Middle East together with partner shipyards worldwide.