Austal Australia has delivered their third Evolved Cape Class patrol boat to the Royal Australian Navy, dubbed the ADV Cape Naturaliste.

The 58-metere aluminium monohull ADV Cape Naturaliste is the third of eight Evolved Cape Class patrol boat (ECCPB) to be delivered to the RAN, with the ADV Cape Otway and ADV Cape Peron delivered in March and August 2022, respectively.

According to the current schedule, Austal is producing a new ECCPB within a year of construction.

The vessels are designed to house up to 32 people with improved quality of life systems, for use within a variety of constabulary and naval missions.

“Austal has now delivered three Evolved Capes to the Royal Australian Navy since the contract was signed in May 2020. Our productivity has improved with each new vessel, to the point where Austal is launching a new Evolved Cape after just 12 months [of] construction,” Paddy Gregg, chief executive officer of Austal Limited, said.

“The fourth vessel, the future ADV Cape Capricorn, is alongside now and we have four more Evolved Capes at various stages of production, here in Henderson.

“With the continued support of our trusted supply chain partners, the Austal shipbuilding team is well on track to deliver all eight Evolved Cape Class patrol boats to the Navy by mid-2024, on schedule.