Austal Patrol Boats In Service With Water Police

Proven Designs Provide Flexible Solutions for Small Boat Operators

Following their delivery voyage from Fremantle to Sydney via The Great Australian Bight, ninety six metres of new Austal vessels in the form of six, 16 metre Patrol Boats are now in service with the New South Wales Water Police.

Austal is often recognised for the increasing size of its vessels, yet the company remains committed to serving both existing and new customers with smaller vessel requirements. An ongoing focus on design and competitiveness enables Austal to continue to provide winning solutions.

In the case of the NSW Water Police, Austal was able to secure the contract by demonstrating a proven product and by delivering six boats in a little over twelve months from the date of order. Operating primarily as a first response to marine crime, and also in a search and rescue role, these new boats compliment the delivery to the NSW Water Police of seven, 16 metre and two, 22 metre patrol boats by Austal in 2000.

Stephen Lupi, Executive Manager, Sales Marketing and Strategy commented,

“A large part of Austal’s growth and success to date has been the result of our strategy to diversify the product range across commercial and defence markets. Over time, our ability to build larger vessels has increased, however we still maintain a strong focus on vessels in the sub fifty metre range. This is achieved by maintaining flexible construction facilities supported by a large internal design resource.”

These new police boats join the Austal vessels already in service protecting Australia’s coastline, including eight, 38 metre Patrol Boats in service with the Australian Customs Service since 2000, and fourteen, 57 metre patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy currently being delivered into service through to late 2007.

Austal has also delivered defence vessels to the Yemen Navy and Kuwait Coast Guard and is nearing completion of a 16 metre patrol boat for the Bermuda Water Police.

Picture Caption: Two of the six new 16 metre patrol boats prior to departing Austal’s Henderson shipyard shown alongside two 57 metre Armidale Class Patrol Boats nearing completion.

AUSTAL’S 22 metre PATROL BOATS IN THE NEWS

Multi-agency maritime operation - Tweed Heads

6 September 2006 (www.police.nsw.gov.au)

Police from the Marine Area Command have co-ordinated a three-day joint operation designed to test the capabilities of state and federal agencies working together in a major border protection exercise.

The operation, which began yesterday, involves NSW Police officers from areas including Marine Area Command and POLair, supported by police from the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command.

Operation Baker is a multi-agency initiative co-ordinated by NSW Police and supported by Australian Customs Service, NSW Fisheries, Australian Fisheries and Management Authority, NSW Maritime Authority, Australian Federal Police, and Queensland Police.

The exercise is targeting illegal activities in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone out to 200 nautical miles to sea. Vessels are being stopped and checked for legislative compliance and illegal activities in Australian waters.

The exercise is being run between Tuesday 5 September and Thursday 7 September.

NSW Police Marine Area Command’s Sergeant Joe McNulty and Enforcement Operations Manager with Australian Customs, Mr Greg Corrigan, said they were confident the agencies working cooperatively together would make the operation a success.

“There has been many months of planning going into this operation and demonstrates the capability of several agencies working together to target illegal off-shore activities.”

Two-22m NSW Police offshore patrol vessels, Alert and Nemesis, are operating within the 200 nautical mile zone and supported by a Marine Operational Support Team (MOST) who are conducting boarding operations with Customs and fisheries officers.

“This maritime enforcement operation is unique, combining the Commonwealth and States’ law enforcement air and maritime resources,” Sgt McNulty said.

Coastwatch and the NSW Police air-wing, POLair, are providing air support throughout the operation.