Austal has been awarded a $39 million contract by Defence to build two more Guardian class Patrol Boats (GCPB), bringing the total number on order to 24.
The new vessels, which will be delivered in 2026, will allow Defence to replace damaged patrol boats and provide a second vessel to Kiribati.
Since the first GCPB entered service in 2019, at least two vessels have been damaged beyond repair, while the government has promised an additional example to Kiribati for a total of three additional boats beyond the original 21.
One of these, a replacement for Samoa's Nafunua II which ran aground in 2021, was ordered in 2022 when defence awarded Austal a $15.2 million contract for an additional vessel.
In November 2023, Defence delivered a replacement vessel, Nafanua III, to Samoa though the hull itself was not the one ordered in 2022. Instead, ADM understands, the vessel delivered to Samoa was GCPB 18 which was originally intended for the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI).
RMI, which is the last remaining operator of an old Pacific class vessel, is now expected to receive its first Guardian class vessel in 2025.
The new contract for two additional boats therefore likely covers a replacement boat for Tuvalu as well as Kiribati's second vessel, which ADM understands will be based at Kiritimati Island in the country's East.
Tuvalu's Guardian class patrol boat, HMTSS Te Mataili II, was badly damaged and declared beyond economic repair by two cyclones while alongside in Vanuatu for work. ADM understands that while Vanuatu's Guardian class patrol boat, RVS Takuare, was also damaged by the same double cyclones, it is currently being repaired in Australia and is expected to return to service.
The status of Fiji's RFNS Puamau, which ran aground on 11 June during its maiden patrol, is currently unclear and will likely not be known until the ship can be returned to Australia for inspection and assessment.
Assuming that it is found to be beyond economic repair, it’s possible that the number of Guardian class vessels will grow to 25 in total.