Completion of the three-vessel fleet was achieved in just over 12 months from the initial order date. Built at Austal’s Tasmanian shipyard, the police boats will be stationed at Yeppoon, Brisbane and Cairns, and are designed to patrol remote, tropical locations for extended periods.
Each vessel has a range of 900 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 20 knots, a maximum speed of 26 knots, and has the ability to drive on and off a six meter rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) while underway.
The aluminum vessels are designed to combine the strength and robustness required for long term reliability and demanding military and commercial applications. The vessels also feature reduced fuel consumption and hull maintenance requirements.
The vessels have facilities to carry up to 70 people and include four twin-berth crew cabins, plus six berths for additional personnel. A large galley is located on the main deck and adjacent to it are the mess area and laundry, along with dedicated communications and command centers.
The wheelhouse is located on the deck. Toilet and shower facilities are located on both the main and upper deck. For the convenience of the crew, each vessel has a fuel capacity of 7,600 liters, a freshwater capacity of 1,000 liters and is equipped with a Sea Recovery Aqua Whisper desalinator to extend operational endurance.
