Cape class patrol boat (image & photos : Austal)
Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal today hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the first of eight high performance patrol boats it is building for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal today hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the first of eight high performance patrol boats it is building for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Keel-laying traditionally marks the first significant
milestone in a ship’s construction. Historically this was the “laying down” of
the main timber making up the backbone of a vessel. Austal’s advanced
shipbuilding techniques means fabrication of ship modules begins well before
they are actually joined. So today Austal celebrates keel-laying when modules
are brought together for final assembly.
Although Austal’s design and manufacturing approach is
thoroughly modern, the ceremony retained long held shipbuilding traditions.
This included placing specially minted coins under a keel block as a symbol of
good fortune and to bless the ship. These coins will be removed just prior to
the patrol boat’s launch which is scheduled for later this year.
Coins were placed by Australia ’s Minister for Home
Affairs, the Hon. Jason Clare MP; Customs and Border Protection Chief Executive
Officer Mr Michael Carmody; and Austal Chief Executive Officer, Mr Andrew
Bellamy. Austal also invited Mr Clare to authenticate the keel by marking his
initials on part of the boat’s aluminium structure. He was assisted by Richard
Taylor, Austal’s Apprentice of the Year for 2011, who has now completed his
apprenticeship and is working as a fabricator on the Cape Class
program.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Bellamy said the Cape Class
Patrol Boat Program was demonstrating Austal’s broad capability and world
leadership in the defence field.
“Like our US Navy projects, this program shows that Austal
can do more than design and manufacture world-class ships. We are also taking
the prime contracting role and using in-house expertise to develop and
integrate sophisticated electronic systems for command, control and
communication. We are also building on our existing capabilities to establish
and operate a comprehensive and effective in-service support system for the
fleet,” Mr Bellamy said.
“This total solution capability represents the future of our Australian business, as we continue to expand and enhance the strategic industry capability necessary to meet the current and future defence needs of
Mr Bellamy said the fact that Austal had been awarded the
contract after a rigorous, open international tender process by a highly
experienced and meticulous customer reflected the company’s ability to
successfully compete in the global market.
“This is the Australian Government getting the best possible
value regardless of supplier nationality, and that’s the basis upon which we
secured this work.
“The fact that we are on track to deliver that capability,
as promised, is a credit to all involved. It reflects the skills and hard work
of our staff, many of whom bring invaluable experience from previous government
contracts carried out both here in Australia
and at our US
shipyard,” he said.
Construction of the first Cape Class Patrol Boat will
continue in accordance with schedule, with launch due in December this year
prior to sea trials and delivery to Customs and Border Protection in March
2013. Austal’s eight year support contract for the fleet encompasses a full range
of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities.
The Cape Class Patrol Boats will play a significant role in
protecting Australia ’s
borders from multiple maritime threats, and have been designed to have greater
range, endurance and flexibility, as well as enhanced capability to operate in
more severe sea conditions than the current Customs and Border Protection
fleet. The aluminium monohulls can operate at 25 knots and have a range in
excess of 4000 nautical miles. Each can undertake simultaneous operations with
two embarked 7.3 metre rigid hulled response vessels.
(Austal)
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