The first of eight new Australian Customs boats has hit the water. Similar to the Armidale Class Patrol Boats, the Cape Class Patrol Boats will be a valuable addition to the Australian Customs fleet and hopefully they will eventually take a little of the pressure off the Navy with boarder protection duties.
I think that I have found my next project, already started on some drawings. Can't wait for more photos to be released in the coming months.
Some information is available from the Austal and Customs web sites.
My Ship Yard: RAN DDL HMAS Kokoda Australian Coast Guard cutter Nemesis RAN FCPB HMAS Wollongong German SAR Launch DGzRS Berln SS Geest Atlas (Building)
I still wonder why they don't build something bigger which can take a helicopter. May be not as fast as these but the chopper would have the range to search & rescue a fair way out as well.
On top of that, being bigger would cater for all these new australians they keep picking up.
