Pacific class patrol boat

The Pacific class patrol boat (also known as the Pacific Forum class)cite web |url=http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/asiapac.htm |title=World Navies Today: Other Asia-Pacific Navies |accessdate=2008-03-09 |coauthors=Walsh, Terry; Toppan, Andrew |date=2002-03-25 |work=Hazegray: World Navies Today |publisher=Haze Gray & Underway] is a class of 22 patrol boats built by Australia and donated to South Pacific countries. Constructed from 1985 to 1997 and operated by militaries, coast guards or police forces of twelve island nations, these boats are supported by the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. They are used primarily for maritime surveillance and fisheries protection.

Design and construction

Following the introduction of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, which introduced a convert|200|nmi|km Exclusive Economic Zone to the territories of all nations with an ocean coastline, several Southwest Pacific island nations found themselves responsible for policing an area of ocean that was beyond their maritime capability, and often significantly larger than their land territories.cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Semaphore_2005_2.pdf |title=The Pacific Patrol Boat Project |accessdate=2008-03-01 |year=2005 |month=February |format=PDF |work=Semaphore |publisher=Sea Power Centre - Royal Australian Navy |pages=2 pages] Following requests by several Pacific nations for assistance from the governments of Australia and New Zealand, the Australian government created a Defence Cooperation Project, the Pacific Patrol Boat Program to design and provide suitable patrol boats to nearby island nations, along with training and infrastructure to support these ships. The Program was officially announced by Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke during the South Pacific Forum meeting in August 1983.cite web |url=http://aus-cscap.anu.edu.au/8(1).html#law |title=LAW AND ORDER AT SEA IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC — THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE PACIFIC PATROL BOAT PROJECT |accessdate=2008-03-01 |coauthors=Bergin, Anthony; Bateman, Sam |year=1999 |month=April |work=AUS-CSCAP NEWSLETTER |publisher=Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific ]

Requests for tenders were issued in August 1984, and the contract was awarded to Australian Shipbuilding Industries, who had designed a small vessel capable of maritime surveillance and interdiction, search and rescue operations, and fisheries protection. Ten ships were planned for eight countries, with construction beginning in September 1985, and the first ship, HMPNGS "Tarangau" delivered to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force on 16 May 1987. The order quickly expanded to 22 ships for 12 countries, with the final ship, FSS "Independence", delivered to the Federated States of Micronesia in June 1997.

There were initial problems with the propellors, engine cooling systems, and air conditioning, but these were fixed before the completion of the third ship of the class. The class underwent refits during each ship's seventh or eighth year of operation, and again at the fifteenth year (which is ongoing until 2012). This has extended the predicted service life of the class to 2027.

Derivatives

Several variant designs for the Pacific class have been produced by Tenix, for a variety of operators.

Four patrol boats of a slightly shortened convert|31|m|ft|adj=on design were produced for the Kuwait Coast Guard.cite web |url=http://www.tenix.com/PDFLibrary/206.pdf |title=Naval and Paramilitary Vessels |accessdate=2008-03-08 |author=Tenix Defence - Marine |pages=pg 3 |format=PDF] An unarmed version of this design is also offered to the operators of oil platforms as crew transport.

Six modified versions of the Pacific class were built for the Hong Kong Marine Police as the "Protector" class. [cite web |url=http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/hongkong.htm |title=World Navies Today: Hong Kong |accessdate=2008-03-01 |last=Toppan |first=Andrew |date=2001 |work=World Navies Today |publisher=] The main difference is the installation of a pump-jet engine to supplement the main propulsion.

A single navigation training vessel, "Seahorse Mercator", was built for Australian Department of Defence company Defence Maritime Services in 1999. Although the hull design is the same, the interior and superstructure are significantly modified.

A convert|35|m|ft|adj=on, all-aluminium design based on the Pacific class hull was created for the Philippine Coast Guard. Four of these ships were delivered in December 2001, and are used as search and rescue vessels. An option for a follow on order by the Philippines of ten more ships is yet to be used.

upport and infrastructure

Australian Shipbuilding Industries (later Tenix) provides support facilities for the class in Brisbane, Australia, and Suva, Fiji.

Crew training for the Pacific class patrol boats is offered by the Australian Department of Defence and the Australian Maritime College (AMC). The AMC runs an average of 32 classes per year in support of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program. The AMC does not possess a Pacific class patrol boat to use as a training vessel; instead a convert|13|m|ft|adj=on boat, TV "Pinduro" is fitted with identical electronic equipment. [cite web |url=http://www.amcsearch.com.au/facilities/04_pinduro.html |title=TV Pinduro |accessdate=2008-03-01 |publisher=Australian Maritime College (AMCSearch)]

Operators

Twelve nations operate Pacific class patrol boats, as part of their military, coast guard, or police force:
* Papua New Guinea (4 ships),
* Fiji (3),
* Federated States of Micronesia (3),
* Tonga (3),
* Solomon Islands (2),
* Cook Islands (1),
* Kiribati (1),
* Marshall Islands (1),
* Palau (1),
* Western Samoa (1),
* Tuvalu (1),
* Vanuatu (1)

Role

The Pacific class patrol boats are used primarily for maritime surveillance and fisheries protection. They are often the only surveillance capability the operating nation has access to, and their presence has often deterred foreign fishing fleets. The ships are also used for customs and quarantine inspections of ships, anti-smuggling and -drug running operations, VIP transport, search and rescue, disaster relief, and hydrographic survey.

The patrol boats also provide indirect benefits to the operating nations. Operation of the Pacifics has often required the expansion of maritime facilities, providing jobs and facilitating access for other ships. Economies are boosted by tourism revenue created by better hydrographic information, and fines for illegal fishing. The ships are seen as miniature warships, and are a point of pride and prestige for the island nations.

Future replacement

It is predicted that as the Pacifics approach the end of their service life, the operating nations may again approach Australia to assist in providing replacement ships. Patrol boats built to a similar design to the RAN's "Armidale" class or RNZN's "Protector" class are considered to be appropriate, and would help support the Australian shipbuilding industry. However, acquiring these more advanced ships may be financially restrictive for some of the smaller nations.

A 2008 report recommended that the Australian Defence Force not pursue a replacement program, due to the rising costs of operating and fueling the ships (over double the expected annual cost of AU$12 million two years in a row), poor operating rates (averaging 36 days at sea per ship per year) linked to the operating nations' difficulties in crewing and maintaining the ships, and a lack of support from any of the other nations with interests in the Pacific. [cite news |title=Defence calls to scrap Pacific patrol vessels |last=Pearlman |first=Jonathon |date=2008-09-30 |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |pages=p. 7 |accessdate=2008-10-10]

hips

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References