Australian border force loans two Cape-class offshore patrol vessels to navy

[Zarvan]

Cape Wessel, sister ship of the Cape-class patrol boats Cape Nelson and Cape Byron, both of which are currently on loan to the Royal Australian Navy. Source: Austal
Key Points

• The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is currently operating two Cape-class patrol boats on loan from the Australian Border Force
• The vessels have been transferred temporarily to support the RAN's efforts to meet its border security operations commitments

The Australian Border Force (ABF) has temporarily transferred two Cape-class offshore patrol vessels to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to enable the navy to meet its border security operations commitments, spokespersons for both the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and Department of Defence (DoD) have confirmed with IHS Jane's .

The vessels are Cape Byron , which was handed over to the RAN on 24 July 2015, and Cape Nelson , which was transferred on 1 October 2015. Both vessels are being operated by RAN personnel.

"With the loss of HMAS Bundaberg in August 2014 and the recent commencement of the structural remediation programme for the Armidale-class Patrol Boat fleet, which will increase to two vessels concurrently from December 2015, the additional [Cape-class patrol boats] are being used by Defence to meet its commitments for border security operations," said the DoD in response to queries from IHS Jane's .

According to IHS Jane's Fighting Ships , the Cape class has an overall length of 57.8 m, a beam of 10.3 m, and a draught of 3 m. Powered by two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines, the platforms have a top speed of 25 kt and a standard range of 4,000 n miles at 12 kt. Each vessel can accommodate 18 crew and embark two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) that can be launched simultaneously for interception duties. The platforms are armed with two deck-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns.

With the transfer of the vessels to the RAN, the ABF now operates six Cape-class boats instead of eight. The service has, however, downplayed any suggestion that the transfer might affect its own maritime security operations capacity.

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Australian border force loans two Cape-class offshore patrol vessels to navy - IHS Jane's 360