Guardian-class patrol boat

The Guardian-class patrol boats are a class of small patrol vessels designed and built in Australia for small Pacific Ocean countries.[1][2]

Three Guardian-class patrol boats at the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia
Class overview
Name: Guardian class
Builders: Austal
Operators: 13 nations
Preceded by: Pacific class
Built: 2018–present
Planned: 21
General characteristics
Type: Patrol boat
Length: 39.5 m (129 ft 7 in)
Beam: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draft: 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Propulsion: 2 × Caterpillar 3516C diesels, 2 shafts
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range: 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement: 23
Armament: Australia shipped the vessels complete, except for weapons, but the design is capable of mounting machine guns and possibly a main armament of an autocannon of up to 30 mm

The class is designed to be updated replacements for the Pacific Forum-class patrol boats provided to its allies from 1987 to 1997.[1][3][4][5][6][7] Australia provided twenty-two Pacific Forum vessels to twelve nations. They were designed to use commercial off the shelf components, to make them easier to maintain for the small nations that would operate them. Australia stood ready to help with training and maintenance, during the duration of the program, because Australia's external security issues were eased if it could count on its sovereign neighbours having resources to police their own external security.

Austal was commissioned to build 19 Guardian-class boats in 2016.[8][9] Austal's contract allows it to market the design to additional customers.[10] Subsequently, an additional two vessels were ordered for Timor-Leste, scheduled for delivery in late 2023.

Austal delivered HMPNGS Ted Diro to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force on 30 November 2018.[11] Her engines broke down in October 2019, and she had to be towed to Australia for repairs.[12]

Roles

Like the class of vessels they will replace, these small vessels will allow Australia's small neighbours to patrol their own economic zones. They will be able to control smuggling, unregulated fishing, and perform search and rescue duties.[9][13] The Guardian class will be slightly larger, will have better sea-keeping capabilities, and their electronics suite will be up to date.

Design

The Australian government called for submission in March 2015.[9][13] Five consortia submitted designs for the class.[14] Austal was chosen as the contractor in April 2016.

The vessels will be 39.5 metres (129 ft 7 in) long, steel monohull design, capable of traveling 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), with a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).[1] They are designed to berth a complement of 23 crew members. They will have a stern launching ramp for a pursuit boat.[15][16] Austal will deliver the vessels without armament, but they were designed to be capable of mounting an autocannon of up to 30 millimetres (1.2 in) on their foredeck, and a heavy machine gun on either side of their bridge.

The vessel's twin diesel engines can provide 4,000 kilowatts (5,400 shp).[9] Sophisticated electronic engine controls will help conserve fuel.

One of the main deck staterooms, a stateroom with two bunks, is equipped with separate ventilation, so it can be used as an infirmary for infectious patients.[2]

Delivery

The keel of the first vessel was laid in July 2017.[17] That vessel was scheduled to be delivered to Papua New Guinea in October 2018.[18][19] New vessels are scheduled to be completed every three months.[20][21][22] The first vessel was commissioned into the PNGDF on 1 February 2019.[23] The second was commissioned into the Tuvalu Police Force on 5 April 2019.[24][25]

Austal's contract contains provisions to provide maintenance support to the client states, for seven years, out of its Cairns facility.[9]

Disposition of Guardian-class boats[13][26]
ImageNameCustomer   Delivery   Commissioning RetirementNotes
HMPNGS Ted Diro (P401)Papua New Guinea2018-11-302019-02-01
HMTSS Te Mataili II (802)Tuvalu20192019-04-05
VOEA Ngahau Koula (P301)Tonga20192019-10-16
  • The vessel's crew may contain both men and women.[35][36][37][38]
  • Commissioned on 16 October 2019.[39]
Nafanua IISamoa2019-08-16[40]2019-10[41]
  • The vessel's crew may contain both men and women.[42][43]
  • May mount a deck gun.[44]
  • Replaced Nafanua.
RSIPV GizoSolomon Islands2019-11-082019-12-19
RFNS SavenacaFiji2020-03-06
PSS Remeliik IIPalau2020-09-18
RKS Teanoai II (301)Kiribati2020-0x[57]
  • Teanoai II was launched on 24 April 2020.[58]
VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P302)Tonga2020-10-302021-01-27
Vanuatu2021[61][62]
Solomon Islands2022-3
HMPNGS Rochus Lokinap (P402)Papua New Guinea
  • Papua New Guinea will receive a total of four vessels.[27]
Papua New Guinea
  • Papua New Guinea will receive a total of four vessels.[27]
Papua New Guinea
  • Papua New Guinea will receive a total of four vessels.[27]
Republic of Marshall Islands
Federated States of Micronesia2022
  • Federated States of Micronesia will receive two vessels in 2022.[26][63]
Federated States of Micronesia2022
  • Federated States of Micronesia will receive two vessels.[26][63]
Cook Islands2022[64]
Fiji2023
Timor-Leste2023[67][68]
  • Timor-Leste will receive two vessels.[26]
Timor-Leste2023[67][68]
  • Timor-Leste will receive two vessels.[26]

See also

References
  1. "Austal Pacific Patrol Boat 40" (PDF). Austal. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Austal will design, construct and deliver the 19 steel-hulled patrol boats (valued at $280 million) to 12 Pacific Island nations. The contract includes an option for two additional vessels.
  2. "Australia's Defence Engagement in the Pacific: 2016 Defence White Paper". Australian Navy. 2016. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018. The Pacific Patrol Boats are gifted by Australia as sovereign assets, and have enabled Pacific Island countries to take an active role in securing their own borders and resources – to the benefit of the region overall. The PPBs are used to undertake a wide range of tasks, from fisheries enforcement, to Search and rescue, to movement of ballot boxes.
  3. "Maritime security strengthened through Pacific Patrol Boat Program" (Press release). Australian Government: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 August 2014.
  4. Brenda Nicholson (5 March 2015). "Patrol boat orders to save shipbuilding industry". The Australian. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  5. Dave Morley (3 December 2015). "Replacement Program". Navy News. Royal Australian Navy. p. 9. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  6. "Prime Minister and Minister for Defence - Continuous Naval Shipbuilding". Department of Defence (Press release). 18 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2017. Combined first and second pass approval for the replacement Pacific Patrol Boats. Austal Ships Pty Ltd has been selected as the preferred tenderer to construct and maintain up to twenty-one replacement steel-hulled Pacific Patrol Boats in Henderson, Western Australia.
  7. "Minister for Defence - Contract signed for replacement Pacific Patrol Boats". Department of Defence (Press release). 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2017. As part of the $280 million (ex-GST) contract Austal will design and construct the first 19 vessels in Henderson, securing more than 120 jobs for Western Australia.
  8. Daniel Newell (5 November 2017). "Austal set to book extra patrol boat orders for Timor-Leste". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. The order would increase total production of the boats to 21 from the 19 already committed to early last year in a contract worth $305 million.
  9. "Austal Pacific Patrol Boat 40". Naval Technology. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Under the contract, Austal will offer support services to the replacement patrol boats initially for seven years.
  10. "Austal approaches completion of Cape class and starts work on PPB-R project". The Royal Institution of Naval Architects. July–August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Austal is currently pursuing export opportunities for variations of the Bay class, Cape class and Guardian class (Pacific) patrol boats, for customers in the Middle East and Asia.
  11. "Fed govt gives new patrol boats to PNG". SBS News. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. The federal government has handed over the first Guardian class patrol boat to Papua New Guinea.
  12. Ben Packham (17 October 2019). "Patrol boat gift to PNG back under warranty". The Australian. Retrieved 15 October 2019. HMPNGS Ted Diro, built by Perth shipbuilder Austal, is limpoing back to Cairns for repairs accompanied by survey ships HMAS Benalla and Shepparton.
  13. "Australia to build 21 patrol boats for its neighbors". Marine Log. 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. At a press conference announcing the program, Rear Admiral Mark Purcell, the head of Maritime Systems Division at Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation, noted that the key requirements for these vessels are to be designed and constructed to commercial standards; simple and cost-effective to own, operate and maintain.
  14. "SEA 3036 Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement". 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. The SEA 3036 Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) program involves the acquisition and support of up to 21 new vessels to replace a fleet of Pacific-class patrol boats gifted to 12 Pacific Island nations between 1987 and 1997.
  15. Michael Arnold (5 February 2019). "Patrol Boats Set To Upgrade Capabilities". Fiji Post Courier. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019. They are capable of operating in Sea State 4 and are equipped with a “game changing” stern-launched zodiac (inflatable boarding vessel), which is a first for both the PNG and the Australian navy.
  16. "Austal Australia delivers 7th Guardian-Class patrol boat". Manufacturer's Monthly. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020. Faster, with improved seakeeping, better amenities and an enhanced mission capability – including an integrated stern launch and recovery system – the Guardian-class Patrol Boat(s) provide the Palau Bureau of Maritime Security with a much improved naval asset to carry out border patrols, regional policing, search and rescue and many other operations domestically and internationally.
  17. Gemma Whiting (July 2017). "Austal celebrated ceremonional keel laying of first Pacific Patrol Boat". Austal. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Minister Pyne authenticated the keel by committing his signature to a plate that was subsequently welded and placed in the hull of the vessel.
  18. Minister for Defence Industry (31 July 2017). "Pacific Patrol Boat Milestone". Department of Defence (Press release). Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2017. Another milestone has been reached in Australia's continuous naval shipbuilding program with a ceremonial keel laying for the first new Pacific Patrol Boat.
  19. Alix Valenti (21 December 2016). "PNGDF Plans Expansion". Asian Military Review. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2017. Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Toropo continued that in 2018, the PNGDF's naval element will receive the first of four Austal ‘Guardian’ class patrol boats to replace the four Tenix ‘Pacific’ class patrol boats acquired from Australia in the late-1980s.
  20. Amelia McMahon (30 May 2018). "The first of 21 Guardian Class Pacific Patrol Boats to be designed and built by Austal has been launched". Defence Connect. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Construction of the second and third boats is underway, with new boats scheduled to be delivered at approximately three-month intervals from late 2018 until 2023.
  21. "Austal launches first Guardian class Pacific Patrol Boat". Marine Log. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018. Austal Limited (ASX: ASB) today announced the first of 21 Guardian Class, Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB-R) has been launched just two years after the contract was awarded, keeping with the schedule and budget for the project. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to Papua New Guinea in late October 2018.
  22. "First Guardian-class PPB-R launched for delivery to Papua New Guinea - Naval Technology". Naval Technology. 30 May 2018. Archived from the original on 30 November 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018. 'This particular boat will be gifted to Papua New Guinea in late-October 2018 and is the first of 21 boats to be gifted to 12 Pacific Island countries and East Timor as part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program.'
  23. Michael Arnold (5 February 2019). "PNCFG vessel named after Diro". Fiji Post Courier. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019. Brig-Gen Diro, who was present for the commissioning of the HMPNGS Ted Diro last Friday, along with Major General Gilbert Toropo (current PNGDF commander) saluted the gesture in what both men described as another illustration of the enduring friendship between PNG and Australia.
  24. "Australia hands over Guardian-class patrol boat to Tuvalu". Naval Today. 6 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019. The 39.5 meter steel hulled patrol boat was built by Australian shipbuilder Austal under an AUD 335 million program that will see 21 boats gifted to 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
  25. Christopher Pyne (7 April 2019). "Guardian Class Patrol Boat gifted to Tuvalu". Australian Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019. Te Mataili II was received by the Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the Right Hon Enele Sosene Sopoaga at a handover ceremony attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, Tourism, Environment and Labour, the Hon Taukelina Finikaso, the Minister for Natural Resources, the Hon Dr Puakena Boreham, and the Commissioner of the Tuvalu Police Service, Commissioner Luka Falefou.
  26. "Timor Leste's future Patrol Boats". Monch Publishing Group. 19 April 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2018. The PICS will receive their new patrol boats as follows: Cook Islands (1 vessel); Federated States of Micronesia (2 vessels); Fiji (2 vessels); Kiribati (1 vessel); Palau (1 vessel); Papua New Guinea (4 vessels); Republic of the Marshall Islands (1 vessel); Samoa (1 vessel); Solomon Islands (2 vessels); Timor Leste (2 vessels); Tonga (2 vessels); Tuvalu (1 vessel); Vanuatu (1 vessel).
  27. "Keel laying for first Pacific Patrol Boat replacement". Monch Publishing Group. 30 July 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018. The new ‘Guardian’ class patrol boats will come to replace the 12 Pacific Island nations’ ageing ‘Pacific’ class patrol boats, which had been gifted by Australia under the PPB programme implemented in 1983. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to Papua New Guinea, who will receive a total of four patrol boats, by October 2018 and the last vessel is scheduled for delivery by 2023.
  28. David Sigston (30 May 2018). "Austal launches first Pacific Patrol Boat". News (AU). Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018. The first of a new fleet of patrol boats destined for Australia's Pacific neighbours has been launched by Australian shipbuilder Austal.
  29. "AUSTAL DELIVERS FIRST GUARDIAN CLASS PATROL BOAT". Austal. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018. 'The program is now in a full rate of production, with the second vessel, which is destined for Tuvalu, successfully launched on Monday with an additional three vessels in various stages of construction. Austal are already looking at export opportunities for the GCPB' Mr Singleton said.
  30. "Papua New Guinea receives first Guardian-class patrol boat". Naval Today. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 December 2018. The next vessel will be gifted to Tuvalu in April 2019 and the last will go to Timor-Leste in October 2023.
  31. Cedric Patjole (8 July 2018). "Australian ship named after Ted Diro". Loop. Archived from the original on 13 August 2018.
  32. Gabriel Dominguez (9 August 2018). "First Guardian class PPB starts sea trials". Jane's Defence Weekly. London. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Australian shipbuilder Austal announced on 9 August that the first Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) had begun sea trials.
  33. "Austal conducts its first sea trial for Pacific Patrol Boats - Manufacturers' Monthly". Maritime Monthly. 13 August 2018. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018. Austal has commenced sea trials for the first of the Guardian Class Pacific Patrol Boats, as part of the 21 vessels the company will be delivering to the government for the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (PPB-R) Project.
  34. "Austal Launched First Guardian Class Pacific Patrol Boat". Navy recognition. 20 June 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2018. The first of 21 Guardian-class, Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB-R) was launched by Austal last month. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to Papua New Guinea in late October 2018.
  35. "Tonga's first Guardian-class patrol boat to be delivered in June". Baird Maritime. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 6 March 2019. Named Ngahu Koula (“Golden Arrow”), the vessel will begin operating under His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) once its first cadre of assigned crewmembers finish their weeks-long familiarisation training.
  36. Ridzwan Rahmat (21 June 2019). "Tonga receives Guardian-class patrol vessel". Jane's Navy International. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019. The Tongan Royal Navy has taken delivery of a Guardian-class patrol vessel from Australia.
  37. Dave Morley (4 January 2018). "Forging ties in Tonga". Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018. Lieutenant Commander Ryan, who has been in Tonga for eight months, said the improvements were being carried out to support the arrival of Tonga's two new Guardian-class patrol boats, which are due in mid-2019 and 2021, respectively.
  38. "Tonga receives Guardian-class Patrol Boat". Mirage News. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019. The Tongan Royal Navy's Ngahau Koula was received by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Captain Sione Ulakai, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff to His Majesty's Armed Forces, at a ceremony in Western Australia.
  39. "King commissions Tonga Navy HQ and patrol boat". Matangi Tonga. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 16 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019. As Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF), King Tupou VI inspected the headquarters and went for a tour on the patrol boat around Nuku’alofa harbour, accompanied by Queen Nanasipau’u and guests.
  40. "Samoa receives Guardian-class Patrol Boat". Mirage News. Henderson, Australia. 16 August 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019. The Australian Government has today handed over the newest Guardian-class Patrol Boat Nafanua II to the Samoan Government at a ceremony in Henderson, Western Australia. Nafanua II was received by Samoa's Deputy Prime Minister the Honourable Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and the Commissioner of Police Mr Fuivaili’ili Egon Keil.
  41. "New patrol boat arrives in Samoa". Radio New Zealand. 7 October 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019. The $US30 million guardian class boat arrived at Matautu wharf on Friday.
  42. Sapeer Mayron (15 August 2018). "Maritime police get $113,535 boost". Samoan Observer. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018. The change rooms are a necessary addition because in August 2019, the wing will receive an Australian government-funded Guardian Class Patrol Boat, which will be used by both male and female police.
  43. Adel Fruean (28 January 2019). "New patrol boat to boost maritime security". Samoan Observer. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019. Under the Pacific Maritime Security Programme, Samoa will this year receive the Nafanua II – a bigger, more capable patrol boat – to enhance Samoa's capacity to secure its ocean resources and maritime domain.
  44. "Samoa police patrol boat may be armed". Radio New Zealand. 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. The service will take delivery of a new state-of-the-art patrol boat, Nafanua II, in September and the Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil wants to keep an eye on how the future shapes up with their surveillance work.
  45. "RSIPF maritime boosted with commissioning of new Guardian class patrol boat GIZO". Solomon Star News. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. The maritime capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has been boosted with the commissioning of the new Guardian class patrol boat, 05 GIZO during a ceremony in Honiara today.
  46. "RSIPF thank Australian gov't". Solomon Star News. 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018. Commissioner Varley explains: “The new Guardian class of patrol boats will be much larger with increased capacity and extended range compared to the current Pacific class of patrol boats. This will be great especially for patrolling of Solomon Islands large maritime border.”
  47. "Australia supports Solomon Island's security priorities". Mirage News. 8 November 2019. The Australian Government has today handed over the latest Guardian-class Patrol Boat RSIPV Gizo to the Solomon Islands at a ceremony in Henderson, Western Australia.
  48. Maggie Boyle (28 January 2019). "Australian assistance to boost Navy fleet: Captain Tawake". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019. Navy Chief, Captain Humphrey Tawake says, the two vessels designated for Fiji will arrive next year.
  49. "Fiji's future Guardian-class patrol boat to honour fallen sailor". Baird Maritime. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019. The vessel honours Seaman Savenaca Naulutuma, a Fiji-born Royal New Zealand Navy sailor who was killed in action while serving aboard the cruiser HMNZS Leander at the Battle of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands in World War II. Naulutuma and 25 other crewmembers on Leander were killed shortly after their ship was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the early morning hours of July 13, 1943.
  50. Maika Bolatiki (6 July 2019). "RFNS Volasiga To Arrive In October And RFNS Savenaca In April 2020, Women To Make Up 16% Of Fiji Navy Personnel". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 26 October 2019. Savenaca Naulumatua from Yasawa and Timo Puamau from Lau were members of Fiji Naval Volunteer Force and during World War II they were part of the HMSNZF {sic} Leander's crew that was hit by a Japanese torpedo at the Battle of Kolombangara in July 1943.
  51. Maika Bolatiki (7 March 2018). "Australian High Commissioner Visits RFMF Commander". Fiji Sun. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2018. Director Peacekeeping Operations and Advisor to the RFMF Commander Lieutenant Colonel Pacolo Luveni said, in this visit Mr Feakes said the replacement of the Kula, a Guardian class patrol vessel will be arriving into Fiji in March 2020 and not in 2022.
  52. "Australia gifts Guardian-class patrol vessel to Fiji". Shephard Media. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020. Austal CEO David Singleton said: ‘the Pacific Boat Replacement Project [PPB-R] has really hit its stride, with this sixth Guardian-class Patrol Boat benefiting from a number of innovative production processes that have reduced production time, while maintaining quality.’
  53. Rosi Doviverata (7 March 2020). "PM, Delegation Receive Our New Navy Vessel". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 7 March 2020. Mr Bainimarama said the new vessel could not enter the ranks of Fiji's Navy at a more pressing time. "International criminal networks are hitting the Pacific hard -- particularly with the drug trade."
  54. Rhealyn Pojas (19 March 2019). "Australia to give new ship to Palau to replace Remeliik 1". Island Times. Retrieved 5 October 2019. President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. divulged during a press conference on October 2 that the guardian class patrol boat Remeliik 2, which will replace its predecessor, the PSS Remeliik, will arrive in Palau in June next year.
  55. "Operation Kaukledm". 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  56. Charbel Kadib (18 September 2020). "Palau to acquire Guardian Class patrol boat". Defence Connect. Retrieved 18 September 2020. Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price will officially hand over the latest Guardian Class patrol boat on behalf of the Commonwealth government to the Republic of Palau, as the government's Pacific Step Up program continues to progress.
  57. Patrick Bergin (24 November 2019). "Security challenges rule the waves in Pacific". The Australian. Retrieved 24 November 2019. Next year Fiji, Palau, Kiribati and Tonga will receive their boats. Following this, a new patrol boat will be delivered approximately every three months until 2023. Australia has committed $2bn to the program over the next 30 years.
  58. Arun Mathew (24 April 2020). "Austal Launches 8th Guardian-Class Patrol Boat". Defpost. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. The vessel is to be delivered to Kiribati under the Australian Government's Pacific Maritime Security Program. The boat, to be named RKS Teanoai II (301), will replace the Republic of Kiribati Police's Pacific Forum-class patrol boat, RKS Teanoai (301).
  59. "Delivery of Guardian-class patrol boat to Tonga". Australian Department of Defence. 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon. Melissa Price MP will represent the Australian Government at the ceremony to hand over the new Guardian-class Patrol Boat VOEA Ngahau Siliva to the Kingdom of Tonga.
  60. "King Tupou VI commissions new patrol boat". Matanga Tonga. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021. HM King Tupou VI commissioned the Tonga Navy's VOEA Ngahau Siliva patrol boat at the Masefield Base, Touliki, today.
  61. "Vanuatu welcomes the return of RVS Tukoro". Island Life magazine. 24 August 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2018. The Australian Government, through its Defence Cooperation Program, has demonstrated its long-term commitment to Vanuatu's maritime security, investing almost 800 million vatu (A$10 million) over the past five years in maintaining RVS Tukoro and training her crew to ensure that Vanuatu has an excellent maritime capability until a new patrol boat is delivered in 2021 through the Pacific Maritime Security Program.
  62. "Joint Statement with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu". Mirage News. 16 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019. Vanuatu will also receive a replacement Guardian-class patrol boat under the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP). The PMSP is a $2 billion (over 30 years) program, which consists of replacement Guardian-class patrol boats, integrated aerial surveillance, and enhancements to regional cooperation.
  63. "Visit to Federated States of Micronesia". Mirage News. 29 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019. 'I am very pleased Australia is deepening our support for the Federated States of Micronesia under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, with two new Guardian-class patrol boats to be delivered in 2022,' he said.
  64. Marise Payne (17 July 2019). "Australian foreign minister to visit Cook Islands". Mirage News. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019. I will visit the Cook Islands’ Patrol Boat, Te Kukupa, which will be replaced with a new Guardian-Class Patrol Boat in 2022 under our Pacific Maritime Security Program.
  65. "Fiji and Australia working on defence agreement". Radio New Zealand. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020. Fiji received its first Guardian Class, the RFNS Savenaca, in March 2020 with the second vessel scheduled for handover in 2023.
  66. Chardel Kadib (26 November 2020). "Australia, Fiji pave way for reciprocal Status of Forces Agreement". Defence Connect. Retrieved 26 November 2020. The ministers also discussed the progress of Australia’s Pacific Maritime Security Program, which delivered the first Guardian Class vessel, RFNS Savenaca, to the island nation in March, with the second vessel scheduled for handover in 2023.
  67. "Timor-Leste to receive two patrol boats from Australia". Shephard Media. 20 April 2018. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018. Australia's Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project is worth over $300 million. A total of 21 Guardian-class patrol boats will built by Austal and delivered to 13 nations from late 2018. The two vessels for Timor-Leste will arrive in the second half of 2023.
  68. "Australia: 21 Patrol Boat, $300m Deal". Marinelink. 18 April 2018. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018. On current build schedules, the two vessels will be gifted to Timor-Leste in the second half of 2023.
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