Austal Australia cuts metal for RAN’s second Cape-class patrol boat

Austal Australia recently held a metal plate-cutting ceremony to mark the start of construction of the second Cape-class patrol boat slated for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Austal Australia CEO David Singleton said the plate cutting was completed less than 12 weeks after the Australian Department of Defence announced the award of the contract for six new Cape-class vessels for the RAN.

Based on Austal’s existing 58-metre aluminium monohull patrol boat design, the new RAN Cape-class boats include a number of enhancements that further extend the capability of the vessel and the fleet, such as crew accommodation having been increased by 10 people to now total 32.

Delivery of the first vessel to the RAN is scheduled for September 2021. All six vessels in the order are expected to be handed over to the navy by the middle of 2023.

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