ACV Ashmore Guardian

The Niugini Guardian is a patrol vessel operated by Papua New Guinea and previously operated as the ACV Ashmore Guardian by the Customs Marine Unit of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. The former fishing supply vessel Roper K[2] was converted in 2007-08 by Jurong SML in Singapore.[3] It was leased to Customs, primarily to patrol the Ashmore and Cartier Islands for up to 330 days per year.[1]

ACV Ashmore Guardian in Darwin, May 2011
History
Australia
Name:	Ashmore Guardian
Owner:	Gardline Australia Pty Ltd
Operator:	Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Builder:	K Shipyard, Fremantle, Western Australia
Launched:	1983
Acquired:	March 2008
Homeport:	Darwin
Identification:	MMSI number: 503562000 IMO number: 8215285 Call sign: VNW6069
Papua New Guinea
Name:	Niugini Guardian
Acquired:	2015
In service:	2015-current
Identification:	IMO number: 4906551 MMSI number: 503562000 Callsign: VNW6069
General characteristics
Tonnage:	339 GT
Length:	34.9 m (115 ft)
Beam:	8 m (26 ft)
Draught:	3 m (9.8 ft)
Propulsion:	2 × Caterpillar 3406E marine diesel engines, 336 kilowatts (451 hp)
Speed:	10 knots (19 km/h)
Complement:	6 crew and up to 10 Customs Officers.
Notes:	Carries 2 × 7.3 m (24 ft) rigid hull inflatable boats Contains a "secure holding facility for up to ten apprehended illegal foreign fishers".[1]

References

1. "Australian Customs Vessel Ashmore Guardian" (PDF). Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
2. "Vessel "Roper K"" (PDF). ShipLink. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2014.
3. "Jurong SML Converts Ashmore Guardian Patrol Vessel" (PDF). Dilphin: SembCorp Marine. January–February 2008. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2014.