Port of Spain – The Ministry of National Security has confirmed that Australian shipbuilder, Austal Limited, has launched the first of two Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) Cape Class vessels into the water.
The vessels are intended to enhance the border protection capabilities of the country in conjunction with the existing Coast Guard fleet.
In a news release on Thursday, Minister of National Security Stuart Young said the “launch is a significant step, bringing us closer to taking delivery of these naval assets for our Coast Guard. We look forward to the continued progress in the journey of getting these assets to Trinidad and Tobago”.
Designed and built by Austal, the Cape Class is a 58-metre all aluminium monohull patrol boat, specifically produced to combat the full range of maritime security threats.
According to Austal, the vessel has a long 4 000 nautical mile range and 28-day patrol cycle, with a crew of up to 22 people. The vessel also supports two high speed 7.3 metre Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats used for intercepting other vessels.
Back in 2018, experts from the TTCG, including the Chief of Defence Staff, had spent a week in Australia observing and testing the Austal Cape Class Vessels, with the assistance of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). (CMC)
