Kiribati receives new Guardian-class patrol boat from Australia

 

The RKS Teanoai II (301), Guardian-class patrol boat for the Kiribati Police Maritime. Photo c/o Wikimedia Commons.


Australian shipbuilder Austal Limited has announced that it has delivered the eleventh Guardian-class patrol boat to the Australian Department of Defence, which was handed over to the Government of the Republic of Kiribati.


The new patrol boat, named the RKS Teanoai II (301), was received during the certificate signing ceremony held at Austal Limited’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.


Attending the ceremony were Honorary Consul-General of Kiribati Mr. Paul Wenham, Member for Stirling Mr. Vince Connelly MP, Head of Maritime Systems for DOD Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm, Senior ADF Officer in WA Air Commodore Fiona Dowse, and Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for New Zealand, Polynesia and Micronesia Ms. Fleur Davies. 


The RKS Teanoai II will be the first and only Guardian-class patrol boat assigned for the Republic of Kiribati as part of the SEA 3036-1 Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program.


It was originally scheduled for delivery in mid-2020, but was delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns.


The new boat will replace the RKS Teanoai, a Pacific-class patrol boat delivered in 1994 also as a donation by the Australian Government.





[1] Austal Ltd

[2] Naval News


Kiribati receives new Guardian-class patrol boat from Australia Kiribati receives new Guardian-class patrol boat from Australia Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on June 21, 2021 Rating: 5

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