Austal starts sea trials of the first Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat.

According to a video published by Austal Australia on December 28, 2021, the firm started sea trials of the first of six Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats under construction for the Royal Australian Navy.
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First Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat (Picture source: Austal)

The Cape class is a ship class of 18 large patrol boats operated by the Marine Unit of the Australian Border Force, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

Each vessel is 57.8 m (189 ft 8 in) in length, with a beam of 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in) and a draught of 3 m (9 ft 10 in).

Maximum speed is 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph), with a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), and an endurance of 28 days.

Each vessel has a crew of 18, and two crew groups are assigned to each vessel, alternating between operating the patrol boat and shore duties, to ensure maximum vessel availability.

The Cape-class ships are armed with two .50 calibre machine guns, and carries two 7.3 m (24 ft) Gemini RHIB interception craft in cradles at the stern, along with a small boat carried amidships.