Austal has delivered the eighth Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boat (ECCPB), ADV Cape Schanck, to Defence.
The ECCPBs are being procured through Project Sea 1445 Phase 1. It was stood up in 2020 to build six ECCPBs and was expanded by two vessels in April 2022. In February 2024, Defence ordered two more ECCPBs at a cost of $157.1 million for a total of ten.
Cape Schanck is the final ECCPB on order that is being built for the Royal Australian Navy's Patrol Boat Group. The remaining two hulls will instead replace MV Mercator as the Navy’s at-sea navigation and seamanship training platform.
"We were awarded the Evolved Capes contract in May 2020 and now, less than 5 years later, we have delivered eight boats, despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic and in addition to the (now) 24 Guardian-class Patrol Boats we’re also delivering to the Commonwealth of Australia," said Austal CEO Paddy Greg.
“Our congratulations to the Royal Australian Navy on the delivery of ADV Cape Schanck and sincere thanks to the Austal Australia team, the Department of Defence and our supply chain partners in Western Australia and across the country, for their continued support.”