 ADV Cape NaturalisteatAustal 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 |
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| 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 NaturalisteinWestern Australia, is an evolved Cape-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).[1][2][3]
The ship is the third of ten 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 AustalinHenderson, Western Australia, commissioned on 4 November 2022 and based at HMAS CoonawarrainDarwin, 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] In November 2023, the RAN ordered a further two evolved Cape-class patrols, at a cost of A$157.1 million.[5]
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 Royal Australian Navy |
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 Australian Border Force Marine Unit |
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 Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard |
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