The Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels are deployed for naval and law enforcement missions. Credit: Austal/Vestdavit.

Vestdavit has secured an additional order to supply its PLAR-6501 aluminium davits to the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Evolved Cape-class patrol boats (ECCPB). 

The order, placed by Austal Australia, will see the company deliver four davits for a pair of ECCPB vessels with hulls 819 and 820, which are currently under construction at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia.  

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The latest contract increases the total number of PLAR davits supplied to Cape and ECCPB vessels to 20.  

The Evolved Cape-class vessels are used for various naval and law enforcement missions. The 58m aluminium monohull patrol boats are an advancement from the earlier Cape-class patrol boats. 

The vessels feature enhanced life systems and advanced sustainment intelligence systems and larger amenities to accommodate up to 32 individuals. 

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Austal is under contract to deliver a total of ten ECCPBs to the Australian Navy.  

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The PLAR-6501 model, an upgrade of the PLAR-6500 system, adheres to the DNV-0498 standard, which includes a comprehensive fatigue analysis. 

Designed to be lightweight and compact, the aluminium davits are claimed to offer a 30% weight reduction compared to traditional steel systems.  

This weight saving contributes to enhanced stability and allows for an increased payload, resulting in higher maximum speeds, improved manoeuvrability, reduced fuel consumption, and more. 

Emphasising safety and reliability, the davits are designed to protect both personnel and equipment, ensuring frequent use and adaptability to challenging Naval activities across different sea conditions. 

The modular PLAR davit system supports a safe working load range of 850kg-7,000kg and is delivered pre-assembled and skid-mounted.  

The use of aluminium is said to reduce lifecycle costs as well as offers the benefits of being non-magnetic and corrosion-resistant. 

Vestdavit managing director Rolf Andreas Wigand said: “The fact that our well-proven PLAR davit has again been selected by Austal for the Royal Australian Navy speaks to the robustness and reliability of systems that we have previously delivered, further reinforcing our expertise in meeting the specific requirements of the naval segment.  

“We are grateful to Antelope, our agent in Australia, for having secured the initial davit contracts.” 

Earlier in 2024, Austal secured a A$157m ($105m) contract to build two ECCPBs for the Royal Australian Navy.