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Australia Enhances Indo-Pacific Maritime Presence with HMAS Cape Spencer Patrol Vessel.
Australian shipbuilder Austal announced on April 30, 2025, the successful launch of the future HMAS Cape Spencer, the ninth Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boat (ECCPB) built for the Royal Australian Navy. This milestone marks a significant development in the SEA1445-1 program, initiated in 2020 by the Australian Department of Defence to enhance the country’s maritime patrol capabilities. The primary objective is to improve the surveillance and protection of northern Australia’s vast maritime areas amid rising security challenges and the need for effective border control measures.
The future HMAS Cape Spencer is intended for maritime surveillance, exclusive economic zone protection, and maritime law enforcement operations (Picture source: Austal)
Since the program began, Austal Australia has been responsible for designing and constructing this new generation of 58-metre patrol boats. These vessels have been specifically developed to meet the Royal Australian Navy’s operational needs while incorporating feedback from the in-service use of the first ten Cape-class patrol boats currently operated by the Navy and the Australian Border Force. These operational insights have led to targeted design modifications to improve the fleet’s reliability, adaptability, and performance in response to the operational realities of Australia’s maritime environment.
The future HMAS Cape Spencer is intended for maritime surveillance, exclusive economic zone protection, and maritime law enforcement operations. Built at Austal’s shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, this aluminium monohull vessel measures 58.1 metres in length, 10.6 metres in beam, with a draft of 3.1 metres. Powered by two Caterpillar 3516C diesel engines delivering a combined 6,770 horsepower, it can reach speeds of up to 25 knots. It offers an operational range of over 4,000 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 12 knots, enabling long-duration missions in remote maritime areas without resupply.
The patrol vessel accommodates up to 32 crew members and is equipped with two 12.7 mm machine guns for close-range defence. It also carries two 7.3-metre rigid-hull inflatable boats for interception, boarding, and rescue operations. This evolved version integrates an upgraded sensor suite, advanced communications systems, and modern navigation equipment, enhancing its capacity to conduct a broad spectrum of missions including illegal fishing interdiction, maritime trafficking control, and the monitoring of unauthorized maritime activities. These expanded capabilities make it suitable for deployment in contested or sensitive areas within the broader Indo-Pacific region.
In an official statement, Austal confirmed that the launch of HMAS Cape Spencer proceeded in accordance with the planned production timeline, demonstrating the efficiency of the industrial process and coordination between shipyard teams and program partners, including Jetwave Marine. This adherence to schedule highlights the resilience of the supply chain and the strength of the industrial partnerships supporting the SEA1445-1 program. Since the contract was awarded in May 2020, Austal has delivered eight Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats to the Royal Australian Navy, reflecting consistent production capacity and quality at its Henderson facility.
Following this ninth launch, three additional ECCPBs are currently under construction at the same shipyard: the future HMAS Cape Hawke, also for the Navy, and two vessels for the Australian Border Force. In parallel, Austal is also completing the final two units of a separate program involving 24 Guardian-class Patrol Boats ordered by the Department of Defence. Together, these programs reflect a coherent strategy aimed at strengthening Australia’s maritime capability for both sovereignty missions and regional security operations.
This latest launch underscores the broader national effort to modernize Australia's coastal patrol fleet, aligned with defence, border security, and maritime policy objectives. It also reflects the Australian government’s intent to maintain a sovereign naval shipbuilding industry capable of meeting strategic requirements while adapting to a rapidly evolving regional environment. In an Indo-Pacific marked by growing tensions and increasing asymmetric threats at sea, the introduction of such versatile platforms contributes to maintaining Australia’s maritime presence and ensuring the protection of its territorial waters.
The launch of the future HMAS Cape Spencer fits within a structured industrial effort supported by a network of domestic partners committed to delivering modern, durable, and mission-ready vessels for the Royal Australian Navy. Through its optimized design, operational versatility, and updated systems, this patrol vessel illustrates Australia’s maritime ambitions and its role as a proactive security actor in the Indo-Pacific region.