Austal has turned over the Royal Australian Navy’s eighth Evolved Cape-class patrol boat in Henderson, Western Australia.
The ADV Cape Schanck (313) is one of 10 vessels planned under Canberra’s ongoing effort to replace the service’s Armidale boats in service since the 2000s.
The fleet’s seventh ship, ADV Cape Solander (312), arrived in September 2024.
“Austal Australia, with the help of our valued supply chain, industry and project partners, have now delivered eight Evolved Capes to the Royal Australian Navy in just four and half years,” Austal Limited CEO Paddy Gregg stated.
“The Western Australian naval shipbuilding industry should be incredibly proud of this impressive performance, which clearly demonstrates the Henderson Defence Precinct’s capability, productivity, and reliability.”
The Evolved Cape Patrol Boat
Austal’s Evolved Cape vessel measures 58 meters (190 feet) long and can carry up to 20 passengers.
The ship employs electronic display and information systems, an automatic marine identification device, electron-optical sensors, and .50-caliber machine guns.
It is equipped with two 6,770-horsepower Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, two shafts, and a bow thruster.
The boat can sail up to 46 kilometers (29 miles) per hour and has a range of about 4,000 nautical miles (4,603 miles/7,408 kilometers).