New Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boats Named in First Ever Dual Ceremony

Following the successful introduction of "HMAS Armidale" into Navy service in June, a dual Naming Ceremony for the second and third Armidale Class Patrol Boats was held today at the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. Twelve patrol boats are currently contracted for delivery to the Royal Australian Navy.

The 56 metre all-aluminium monohull vessels were named "Larrakia" by Ms Donna Odegaard JP, a member of the Larrakia Nation, and "Bathurst" by Mrs Judeth Bagley, wife of Lieutenant Commander Ron Bagley (Rtd.) one of the commissioning crew of the original HMAS Bathurst.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 200 senior figures from the Royal Australian Navy, Defence, government and industry including The Hon. Julie Bishop as representative of the Minister for Defence and the newly appointed Chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders.

Austal's Executive Chairman, John Rothwell, commented on the success in operation of the unique Austal patrol boat design

"Feedback from Navy indicates that as well as providing personnel with improved levels of comfort and onboard services these boats are handling and performing very capably in heavy weather," Mr Rothwell said.

David Campbell, Director of Defence Maritime Services, acknowledged the success of the partnership with Austal to date and the ongoing developing relationship with the Department of Defence and Navy.

"We are currently working to finalise the contract for the additional two Armidale Class Patrol Boats recently announced by the Australian Government for the security of oil and gas assets in Australia's North West. This will make a total of 14 patrol boats" he said.

The Prime Contractor, Defence Maritime Services, teamed with Austal to win in 2003 the A$553 million 'output specified' contract to provide and support through their service lives a fleet of patrol boats to replace the ageing Fremantle Class, which have patrolled Australia's maritime zones for the past quarter century. Austal is responsible for the design and construction of the Armidale Class vessels. DMS is managing the overall project requirements, including establishment of a fleet management organisation that will provide integrated maintenance, logistic and crew-training support to the vessels throughout their operational lives.

To be based in the ports of Darwin and Cairns, the Armidale Class fleet will primarily operate within Australia's Marine Jurisdictional Zones carrying out surveillance, interception, investigation, apprehension and the escort to port of vessels suspected of illegal fisheries, quarantine, customs or immigration offences. The ships will also be utilised to protect our valuable offshore oil and gas installations.

The original Larrakia was built in 1936 as a RAAF air-sea rescue launch. 'Larrakia' derives from the language group name for the Aboriginal people of Darwin. The Larrakia people are often referred to as 'saltwater people'.

Likewise, the original HMAS Bathurst was a corvette commissioned in 1940. After extensive service in the Second World War she was decommissioned in 1948.

ENDS