“Austal is leading the way in delivering effective capability to the Navy and adding value to the national naval shipbuilding enterprise and we couldn’t be prouder.”
Austal Australia launches fifth evolved Cape Class
Newsroom
February 9, 2023
Photo: Defence Connect
Launched at Western Australia’s Henderson shipyard, the future ADV Cape Woolamai was under construction for 12 months and launched just four months after the most recently constructed ECCPB.
According to Austal, the ADV Cape Woolamai was named after the headland at the south-eastern tip of Phillip Island in Victoria.
Delivery to Defence is scheduled for later in 2023.
The company’s social media welcomed the announcement, remarking the speed of delivery.
“With the help of our 300-strong supply chain partners, we’re consistently producing an ECCPB every 12 months and launching every three months; maintaining an impressive record of manufacturing that is helping to build the national naval shipbuilding enterprise and Australia’s sovereign capability.”
In November, the company announced that it had delivered their third evolved Cape Class patrol boat to the Royal Australian Navy, dubbed the ADV Cape Naturaliste.
The 58-metre aluminium monohull ADV Cape Naturaliste is the third of eight evolved Cape Class patrol boat (ECCPB) to be delivered to the RAN, with the ADV Cape Otway and ADV Cape Peron delivered in March and August 2022, respectively.
According to the current schedule, Austal is producing a new ECCPB within a year of construction.
The vessels are designed to house up to 32 people with improved quality of life systems, for use within a variety of constabulary and naval missions.
“With the continued support of our trusted supply chain partners, the Austal shipbuilding team is well on track to deliver all eight evolved Cape Class patrol boats to the Navy by mid-2024, on schedule,” Paddy Gregg, chief executive officer of Austal Limited said back in November.