Cape-class patrol boat

For other uses, see Cape class.

ACV Cape St George on Darwin Harbour in 2014
Class overview
NameCape class
BuildersAustal
Operators
Preceded by
CostAU$54 million (US$40.6 million) per unit (FY 2020)
Built
  • 2011–2015 (8 allocated to ABF)
  • 2015–2017 (2 allocated to RAN)
  • 2018–2021 (2 allocated to TTCG)
  • 2020–2024 (10 allocated to RAN)
In service2013–present
Planned22
Completed18
Active18
General characteristics
TypePatrol boat
Displacement400 Tonnes
Length57.8 m (189 ft 8 in)
Beam10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
Draught3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 x Caterpillar 3516C main engines with output of 2,525 kW (3,386 hp) at 1,800 rpm
  • 2 x ZF 9055A gearboxes
  • 2 x fixed pitch propellers
  • HRP 2001 TT 160 kW (210 hp) bow thruster for high manoeuvrability.[1]
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance28 days
Boats & landing
craft carried
  • 2 × 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) Gemini RHIBs
  • 1 × small boat
Crew18
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 2 x electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS)
  • 2 x gyro compasses
  • 2 x differential global positioning systems (DGPS)
  • 1 x secure marine automatic identification system (AIS-S)
  • 1 x electro-optical sensor system (EOSS)
  • 1 x radars and voyage data recorder (VDR)[1]
Armament2 x .50 calibre machine guns[2]

The Cape class is a ship class of 22 large patrol boats operated by the Marine Unit of the Australian Border Force, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard. Ordered in 2011, the vessels were built by Austal to replace Customs' Bay-class patrol boats, and entered service from 2013 onwards. Following availability issues with the Armidale class, two vessels were chartered by the RAN from mid-2015 to late 2016. A further two vessels were ordered at the end of 2015 by the National Australia Bank, who will charter the patrol boats to the Department of Defence from completion in 2017. 2 vessels were ordered by Trinidad and Tobago for their coast guard in 2018 with the vessels delivered in 2021. The RAN placed an order for six 'Evolved' Cape-class vessels in 2020, a second order in 2022 for an additional two vessels, and a third order in 2023 for a further two vessels.

  1. ^ a b "Cape Class Patrol Boats, Australia". Naval Technology. Verdict Media Limited. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Immigration and Border Protection Portfolio – Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee". Parliament of Australia. Senate – Estimates. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2016.