The ninth and tenth Evolved Cape-class (or 11th and 12th Cape/Evolved Cape-class) patrol vessels on order for the Royal Australian Navy, seen here under construction at Austal. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
Austal has begun building the final two Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels that are currently on order for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the company has confirmed with Janes during a recent visit to the shipyard.
Metal for the programme's 11th and yet-to-be-named Cape/Evolved Cape-class vessel was cut in November 2023 at its facilities in Henderson, Western Australia, a company representative told Janes.
Meanwhile, metal for the programme's 12th and final vessel for now, which is also unnamed, was cut in May 2024.
Australia first awarded a contract to Austal for six Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels in May 2020. The programme sought to transition RAN personnel to the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
These vessels are in addition to the two Cape-class patrol boats that were transferred from the Australian Border Force (ABF) to the RAN.
Subsequently, the Australian government signed contracts for four more Evolved Cape-class vessels, with two signed for in March 2022, while another two were inked in November 2023.
The Evolved Cape class has an overall length of 58.1 m, an overall beam of 10.6 m, and displaces about 400 tonnes at full load.
Powered by two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, the vessel can attain a top speed of 26 kt and a standard range of about 4,000 n miles at 12 kt.
It can accommodate a crew complement of around 32 personnel and can hold about 24 detainees within a secured holding facility beneath its bridge.
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