Trinidad and Tobago to buy two Austal Cape Class Patrol Boats

In another win for Australian defence industry, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced plans to buy two Austal Cape Class Patrol Boats.

The vessels will be built at the company’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia and delivered by mid-2020.

The deal to buy the two vessels is valued at approximately $100 million.

There will be a separate sustainment contract which will include an ongoing maintenance and support package to boost Trinidad and Tobago’s border protection capabilities.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, who met with the Trinidad and Tobago Chief of Defence Staff, Commodore Hayden Pritchard, during his recent visit to Australia to look at the Cape Class, congratulated Austal on the success.

“This is an outstanding success for Austal and demonstrates the strong export potential of our local defence industry,” Minister Pyne said.

“The Cape Class Patrol Boats, used by the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy, provide excellent range and endurance and respond to a range of maritime security threats.”

“Through the Defence Export Strategy and Australian Defence Export Office, we hope to see even more companies achieving export success.”

All defence exports are subject to Australia’s rigorous export control regulations.

Austal is also contracted by the Australian Government to design and build 21 Guardian Class Patrol Boats under the Pacific Maritime Security Program.

The Guardian Class project is worth more than $300 million and supports around 400 jobs.