Austal Australia delivers 21st Guardian-Class Patrol Boat Te Mataili III to Tuvalu.

According to a PR published by Austal on October 17, 2024, the Australian firm has successfully delivered its 21st Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) as part of the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project.
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Guardian-class patrol boat Te Mataili III. (Picture source: Austal)

The vessel, Te Mataili III, was officially handed over to the Australian Department of Defence on October 16, 2024, at a ceremony held at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. The Honourable Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans Affairs, accepted the boat on behalf of Australia, before it was gifted to the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu.

Te Mataili III replaces Te Mataili II, which was previously gifted to Tuvalu in 2019. The earlier vessel was damaged beyond repair during twin cyclones that struck Vanuatu in 2023.

The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project, awarded to Austal in 2016, aims to strengthen the maritime security capabilities of Pacific Island nations. With contract extensions in 2018, 2022, and 2024, the project now includes the construction of 24 vessels valued at over A$400 million. The program supports hundreds of jobs both directly and indirectly across Australia.

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These patrol boats, supplied under the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP), aim to assist these nations in managing their vast exclusive economic zones (EEZs), which are critical for their economic and environmental sustainability. Many of these Pacific nations lack sufficient naval resources to patrol and monitor illegal activities, such as unauthorized fishing, human trafficking, and transnational crime.

The origins of this cooperation date back to the Pacific Patrol Boat Program in the 1980s, with a renewed focus following the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security. This declaration broadened the scope of security to include environmental, cyber, and human security. Australia's more recent engagements reflect its strategy to foster stability and resilience in the region, responding to both traditional security threats and emerging issues​.

Moreover, Australia's provision of patrol boats is accompanied by capacity-building efforts. These include training, maintenance support, and infrastructure upgrades to ensure the sustainability of the patrol boat fleets.