Australia receives fourth evolved Cape-class patrol vessel

The fourth evolved Cape-class patrol boat, ADV Cape Capricorn . (Austal)

Australia has received its fourth evolved Cape-class patrol vessel.

The vessel's delivery was announced by its shipbuilder Austal Limited on 13 February. It has been named ADV Cape Capricorn and was handed over to the Australian government four months after its launch, the company added.

The evolved Cape class is an evolution of Austal's 58 m Cape-class patrol boat design. The newer vessels are designed with better habitability features and can accommodate a larger crew complement of 32 instead of 22.

“Austal has now delivered four evolved Capes to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) since the contract was signed in May 2020, and we are launching a new vessel every three months, after around 12 months construction,” said the CEO of Austal, Paddy Gregg, in the 13 February statement.

“The fifth vessel, the future ADV Cape Woolamai, is alongside now, and we have three more evolved Capes at various stages of production, here in Henderson,” he said.

“With the continued support of our trusted supply chain partners from across Australia and around the world, 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,” he added.

Australia received the first three evolved Cape-class patrol boats – ADV Cape Otway, ADV Cape Peron, and ADV Cape Naturaliste – in March, August, and November 2022, respectively. The vessels will be deployed by the RAN for missions such as constabulary operations and maritime patrol.