Austal delivers third patrol boat to the Pacific

Perth shipbuilder Austal (ASX: ASB) has delivered its third Guardian class patrol boats to a Pacific nation as part of an Australian aid programme.

The company handed over the patrol boat, one of a class of steel hulled ships being built by the company, to the Crown Prince of Tonga, His Royal Highness, Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala.

Austal CEO David Singleton said: ““This is the third of 21 Guardian Class that Austal has designed and built for the Commonwealth’s Pacific Maritime Security Programme.

“We are very proud to be delivering this program that will continue out to 2023.”

Austal is best known for its aluminium catamaran and trimaran ferries and naval vessels which it builds in Perth, the Philippines and the United States.

The vessels will be maintained at an Austal service centre in Cairns.

“The Guardian Class provides a very modern and capable patrol boat matched to the south east Asian and Indo Pacific region. It is a very affordable vessel and is a focus for our export activities,” Singleton said.

Picture: Austal

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.