Vanuatu receives Guardian-class patrol boat from Australia

Australia handed over a Guardian-class patrol boat to the government of Vanuatu in a ceremony held at the facilities of shipbuilder Austal in Henderson, Western Australia, on 30 July: the Pacific island nation's Independence Day.

The vessel, which has been named RVS Takuare , is one of 21 boats of the class being given by Canberra to 12 Pacific Island Nations and Timor-Leste as part of Australia's Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement (also known as Sea 3036) project.

Takuare is the 12th patrol vessel of the class to have been delivered under the project, according to a statement by the Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra.

Project Sea 3036 is part of Australia's ‘Pacific Maritime Security Program', an AUD2 billion, 30-year commitment by Canberra to regional security in the Central and South West Pacific that also includes “contracted, region-wide, fixed-wing aerial surveillance, ongoing sustainment and training support, the continuation of defence's maritime adviser network, and infrastructure upgrades to support the safe and secure berthing of the vessels”, according to the DoD.

Speaking about the handover of Takuare , Australian Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the new boat will provide “a boost to Vanuatu's sovereign maritime capabilities and is another tangible demonstration of our security partnership”.

“Australia is proud to deliver this high-quality vessel, supported by wharf infrastructure upgrades in Port Vila and through-life training and maintenance – a hallmark of our Pacific Maritime Security Program,” stated Price, adding that defence co-operation projects such as upgrades to the Vanuatu Government National Emergency Radio Network and the Cook and Tiroas Barracks redevelopment “are deepening our security partnership and industry ties”.