Maritime Security Vessel News Roundup | November 23 – Philippine and Australian naval patrol vessels, a RIB workboat for a US law enforcement operator and a police boat for Samoa

The Philippine Navy, the Samoa Police Service, and a law enforcement agency in the US state of Pennsylvania take delivery of new vessels while a future Royal Australian Navy patrol ship is launched into the water for the first time.

Philippine Navy acquires two additional fast attack craft

The Philippine Navy has taken delivery of two additional Nestor Acero-class missile-capable fast attack interdiction craft (FAIC) from Israel Shipyards.

The future BRP Herminigildo Yurong and BRP Laurence Narag are the fifth and sixth in the series, which are variants of the Shaldag Mark V class patrol boats. As with their earlier sister boats, the newbuilds were named after Philippine Marine Corps personnel who were posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor, the Philippines’ highest combat decoration.

Each vessel’s armament will consist of a 30mm autocannon, two 12.7mm machine guns, 7.62mm general purpose machine guns, and Rafael Spike NLOS anti-ship missiles.

Workboat delivered to Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Alabama boatbuilder Silver Ships has delivered a new rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC).

The 20-foot (six-metre) aluminum workboat will support the PFBC’s mission of protecting, conserving, and enhancing aquatic resources while providing fishing and boating opportunities.

The RIB has a Mercury Verado outboard engine and stowage for the crew’s personal weapons. The electronics suite includes a Garmin radar.

The boat is the fourth of five RIBs in a series to be delivered by Silver Ships to the PFBC under a five-year contract.

Australian-built patrol boat handed over to Samoa Police Service

Austal Australia has handed over a new Guardian-class patrol boat to the Australian Department of Defence, which then gifted it to the Samoa Police Service.

Like its Guardian-class sisters, Nafanua III measures 39 by eight metres and is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C engines that deliver a speed of 20 knots. Armament includes a 30mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns.

Nafanua III is the 18th Guardian-class patrol boat to be delivered by Austal to the Australian Department of Defence under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project SEA3036-1.

Royal Australian Navy’s second Arafura-class patrol vessel floated out

The second Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) slated for the Royal Australian Navy was launched in a ceremony at Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia on Wednesday, November 22.

The future HMAS Eyre is also being built by Luerssen Australia in collaboration with local defence industry partners. The OPVs are intended to replace the Armidale-class patrol boats and have been designed to perform maritime patrol and response duties for the Australian Defence Force.

The OPV will be the first Royal Australian Navy ship to be named for the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.