Global InformationADV Cape Naturaliste information
 ADV Cape Naturaliste at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia in July 2022
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia | |
| Namesake | Cape Naturaliste |
| Builder | Austal, Henderson, Western Australia |
| Commissioned | 4 November 2022 |
| Homeport | HMAS Coonawarra |
| Identification |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Cape-class patrol boat |
| Length | 58.1 m (190 ft 7 in) |
| Beam | 10.6 m (34 ft 9 in) |
| Draught | 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 x Caterpillar 3516C diesels 6,770 hp (5,050 kW) 2 shafts, 1 bow thruster |
| Speed | 26 knots (48 km/h; 30 mph) |
| Range | 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 25 standard, 32 maximum |
| Armament | 2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns |
Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Naturaliste, named after Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).[1][2][3]
The ship is the third of eight evolved Cape-class patrol boats to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. Prior to Cape Naturaliste, the RAN already operated the Cape-class patrol boats Cape Fourcroy and Cape Inscription as well as the evolved Cape-class patrol boats Cape Otway and Cape Peron.[1][2][3]
The ship was built by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia, commissioned on 4 November 2022 and based at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin, Northern Territory. Cape Naturaliste was officially welcomed in Darwin in June 2023, alongside her sister ship Cape Capricorn, becoming the first evolved Cape-class patrol boats to be based there. The patrol boat's primary duty lies in fisheries protection, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations.[1][2][3]
The ship is one of the original six evolved Cape-class patrol boats the RAN ordered in April 2020 to replace the Armidale-class patrol boats in this role, at a projected cost of A$324 million. This order was subsequently expanded by another two boats in April 2022, at an additional projected cost of $124 million.[4]
- ^ a b c "New vessel on the home stretch". www.defence.gov.au. Australian Government. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "New patrol boats welcomed to homeport". www.contactairlandandsea.com. Contact Publishing. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats, Australia". Naval Technology. 18 August 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.