On February 01, The Papua New Guinea Defence Force commissioned the first Austal-built Guardian-class patrol boat, the Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship Ted Diro (HMPNGS Ted Diro).
HMPNGS Ted Diro during sea trials (Picture source : Austal)
Ted Diro is the first of 21 Guardian-class patrol boats to be gifted to 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, the successor to the original Pacific Patrol Boat Program in which Australia gifted vessels to Pacific Island nations between 1987 and 1997.
The larger and more capable Austal-made Guardian-class can support mixed-gender crewing and will assist nations to combat a wider range of maritime security issues, including transnational crime and illegal fishing. The 39.5 meter steel hulled patrol boats are built by Austal under a contract from May 2016, with a contract option in April 2018 taking the program to 21 vessels valued at AU$ 335 million.
In addition to the gifting of 21 vessels, the Pacific Maritime Security Program includes contracted region-wide fixed wing aerial surveillance, ongoing sustainment and training support, the continuation of Defence’s maritime adviser network, and infrastructure upgrades to support the safe and secure berthing of the vessels.
Papua New Guinea’s former Pacific Patrol Boat, ex-HMPNGS Rabaul, arrived in Australia for environmentally responsible disposal in October 2018, and NUSHIP Ted Diro was handed over to Papua New Guinea in November.
