AUSTAL, the ASX listed shipbuilder, has delivered two cape-class patrol boats to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG).
The two patrol boats, TTS Port of Spain (CG41) and TTS Scarborough (CG42), were accepted by Lieutenant Commander Francise Paulette Cazoe of the TTCG at a delivery ceremony held at Austal Australia’s Henderson shipyard. The ceremony was attended by Western Australia minister for the defence industry Paul Papalia.
The TTCG’s Cape-class patrol boats are based on the proven 58-metre monohull vessels operating with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy, with a number of design customisations to meet TTCG mission requirements, including additional armament placements and crew accommodation for up to 27 people.
Both TTS Port of Spain and TTS Scarborough are capable of patrols up to 28 days. They have a range of more than 3000 nautical miles and a top speed in excess of 25 knots. Each vessel has two 7.3-metre rigid hull inflatable boats that may be deployed while underway for a variety of constabulary missions.
Speaking at the delivery ceremony, Austal CEO Paddy Gregg said the two patrol boats were the first cape-class vessels manufactured by Austal to be exported, following the delivery of ten similar vessels to the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy over the past decade.
“The cape-class is Austal Australia’s signature patrol boat design, with twelve vessels now delivered and a further six under construction at our dedicated defence shipbuilding facility in Henderson,” Mr Gregg said.
“These two patrol boats for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard are the first capes we’ve delivered for an export market and proudly represent the capability of not only the Western Australian defence industry, but Australia’s growing sovereign naval shipbuilding capability.
“With their advanced seakeeping, these Cape vessels are perfectly suited to the requirements of the TTGC as the organisation seeks to police the country’s surrounding waters.”
Accepting the vessels on behalf of the government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Lieutenant Commander Francise Paulette Cazoe thanked the Austal Australia team for their effort, dedication and commitment to quality and safety, especially under COVID-19 pandemic conditions.
“The Trinidad and Tobago government is delighted to accept these impressive new Cape-class Patrol Boats, that will significantly enhance our operational capability in Trinidad and Tobago,” Lt Cdr Cazoe said.
“The Austal Australia team have been very professional, supportive and efficient throughout the design and construction process and we thank them for their outstanding effort over the past two challenging years.”
Austal is also delivering 21 steel-hull guardian-class patrol boats for 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor Leste under the SEA3036-1 Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, with 10 patrol boats delivered since 2018. Austal provides in-service support to both the cape and guardian-class patrol boat fleets through an expanding service centre network including Henderson, Western Australia, Cairns, Queensland and Darwin, Northern Territory.
