Three high-speed patrol boats built by Strategic Marine for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have been successfully delivered to the Indonesian Police Department.
The patrol boats, built at Strategic Marine’s Singapore shipyards, have been specifically designed for maritime conditions in Indonesia and surrounding waters and have the capability to pursue at high speed, intercept and board other vessels.
In announcing the contract earlier this year, Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor said the patrol boats would help tackle people smuggling in the region.
“The 16 metre patrol boats are worth almost $5 million and will help the Indonesian National Police respond to and deter people smuggling in the region,” Mr O’Connor said.
“These high-speed patrol boats will be based at strategic locations across Indonesia as an active force in the ongoing fight against people smuggling,” he said.
S trategic Marine Chief Operating Officer Scott Nicholls said his team would be providing the Indonesian Police with training on key design features and operation of the vessels.
“We are excited to have been provided this opportunity by the AFP and look forward to delivering world class patrol vessels, designed to take on the operational challenges faced by today’s law enforcement and defence departments,” he said.
“Strategic Marine has a strong history of producing vessels for defence and police service contracts with over 240 maritime security vessels delivered to date world-wide.
“Our global capacity enables us to provide world-class and economic ship building and repair solutions for the defence industry.”
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World Maritime News Staff, December 13, 2011; Image: StrategicMarine