Austal Delivers Second Cape Class Patrol Boat Early

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce it has delivered the second of eight Cape Class Patrol Boats being supplied to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service under a $330 million design, build and in-service support contract.

Cape Byron was delivered four weeks ahead of its original delivery date.

Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said it was very pleasing that Austal was able to advance delivery of the vessel following a request from the customer.

“Our team at the Henderson shipyard worked hard and intelligently to meet Customs’ request to advance delivery of Cape Byron to increase the capability of the border protection fleet,” Mr Bellamy said.

“It was a great achievement that we were able to deliver Cape Byron ahead of the original timeline while implementing efficiencies identified during construction of the first-in-class Cape Class vessel.

“Our ability to deliver Cape Byron early and continue to improve efficiencies across the program exemplifies Austal’s core value of being a competitive shipbuilder capable of winning domestic and export opportunities, which we believe is the only sustainable model for the long-term future of naval shipbuilding in Australia and the capability it delivers.”With the completion of Cape Byron, Austal has delivered 73 defence vessels including 42 patrol boats for Australian agencies.

The remaining six Cape Class vessels are at various stages of construction and will be delivered progressively through to August 2015, in line with the contract.

Project Background

Austal was awarded the contract for the design, construction and through-life support of the Cape Class patrol boats for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in August 2011. The eight 58 metre aluminium monohulls are due to be delivered between March 2013 and August 2015.

The support contract extends for a minimum period of eight years and encompasses a full range of intermediate and depot level maintenance activities. Further options can be exercised by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for In-Service Support for the life of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Fleet.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will have greater range, endurance and flexibility in responding to maritime security threats than the current fleet.

These vessels will also have enhanced capability to operate in higher sea states and survive in more severe conditions.

The Cape Class Patrol Boats will be able to:

• Undertake 28 day patrols;
• Sail 4,000 nautical miles before having to refuel;
• Combat the full range of maritime security threats;
• Carry a larger crew to more effectively and safely manage boarding operations;
• Identify, track and intercept an extended range of threats in the maritime domain and gather intelligence and store evidence for matters that may proceed to the courts; and
• Launch two Tender Response Vessels simultaneously.

Customs and Border Protection patrol boats may be deployed according to aerial surveillance, community reports and/or radar sightings.

They may be used to:

• Counter people, drug and weapons smuggling;
• Apprehend foreign fishing vessels;
• Gather information and intelligence;
• Monitor environmental pollution; and
• Assist management of offshore nature reserves and marine parks.