The Tunisian Navy recently received two ex-US Coast Guard Island-class patrol boats, which have since been commissioned into service with their new operator.
The 34-metre patrol boats were originally built during the 1980s as multi-mission platforms capable of performing search and rescue, marine environmental protection, and national defence while in US service.
Each vessel's armament includes a 25mm autocannon and two 12.7mm machine guns. An active fin stabilisation system is also fitted on each boat to help reduce rolling while in transit.
The US Coast Guard is replacing the ageing Island-class patrol boats with the Sentinel-class fast response cutters, which feature enhanced capability to meet service needs.
A number of decommissioned Island-class patrol boats have also been transferred to other operators including the Ukrainian Navy, the Hellenic Navy, and environmental extremist organisation Sea Shepherd.
Potential operators of the Island-class boats meanwhile include the Philippine Navy, which is slated to receive two examples in the near future.