Australia receives 6th Evolved Cape-class patrol boat

The 6th Evolved Cape-class patrol boat ADV Cape Pillar (319). Photo c/o Austal Ltd.

The Australian Government has officially accepted the sixth of eight Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat being built by Australian shipbuilder Austal Ltd. for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The vessel, named ADV Cape Pillar (319), was turned over to the Royal Australian Navy during ceremonies at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia on 13 October 2023, with Austal Ltd Chief Executive Officer Paddy Gregg saying that collaboration between the shipbuilder and the Australian Department of Defence and the RAN demonstrates delivering sovereign capabilities for Australia..

The ADV Cape Pillar is the third ship of the class delivered by Austal to the Royal Australian Navy within 2023, which Austal described as an “enviable track record of Australian shipbuilding efficiency and productivity”.

Two more ships of the class are under construction in Austal’s Henderson shipyard and is scheduled for delivery to the Royal Australian Navy by 2024.

The acquisition of the Evolved Cape-class patrol boats was started under the SEA 1445-1 project in May 2020, with the first ship, ADV Cape Otway delivered in March 2022. Four other ships were delivered to the Royal Australian Navy within an 18-month period.

The Evolved Cape-class patrol boats are 58 meters long and can accommodate up to 32 personnel, with improved quality of life systems and advanced sustainment intelligence systems compared to previous designs.

The class, together with the larger Arufara-class offshore patrol vessel, will be replacing the RAN’s fleet of Armidale-class patrol boats and will be used for border and fisheries protection, maritime law enforcement, and maritime defense missions.





[1] Austal Australia Ltd

[2] Naval News