Australian shipbuilder Austal announced it has started sea trials for the first Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB-R).

The announcement was made on August 8 as part of the company’s celebration of 30 years of successfully delivering shipbuilding programs.

The PPB-R program will see 21 Austal designed and built patrol boats gifted by the Commonwealth to the Pacific Island Nations.

“We could not have had a better way to celebrate Austal’s 30th birthday, then by successfully meeting another milestone in the PPB-R program. The PPB-R program is a reflection of Austal’s 30 years in designing and building next-generation technologically advanced vessels. As a company the continuing investment in our operations, our facilities and our people has been critical to our success” Austal CEO, David Singleton said.

“Austal is exceptionally proud of the PPB-R program, this has expanded Austal’s capabilities enabling us to not only offer our customers aluminium, but also steel vessels. It is a testament to the skills, experience and management of the Austal team that every project milestone has been achieved on-time and on-budget,”

“For 30 years, from our global headquarters in Western Australia we have designed, constructed and delivered more than 300 commercial and defense vessels for more than 100 operators in 54 countries worldwide and established international operations in the United States, the Philippines and China.”

The Pacific Patrol Boat contract was awarded to Austal in May, 2016 and is valued at AU$305 million for the original 19 vessels associated in-service support. A further contract was awarded in April, 2018 for two additional vessels valued at AU$29.7 million.