Australian builder receives patrol orders

摘要

Austal Ships, of Western Australia, says that it has recently been has been awarded a contract for the design, construction and supply of six 16m aluminium monohull boats for the Water Police in the Australian state of New South Wales. This order will add to a previous Austal delivery of two 22m and seven 16m patrol boats delivered in 2000. As with the previous contract, these vessels are to be built over a period of about 10 months. This brings the builder's reference list for defence-related vessels to 48, ranging from 16m to 101m, either delivered or under construction. The boats have been ordered as part of a four-year upgrade of the NSW water police fleet. Key features of the Austal patrol boats include: 1. aluminium construction; 2. designed and built to operate up to 200nm offshore; 3. 400nm range at cruising speed (20knots); 4. extensive electronics package in order to fulfil duties as the principal Search and Rescue (SAR) and surveillance authority in the region; 5. crew of 3 or 4.