Navy's tenth Armidale Class Patrol Boat commissions

23 June 2007

In a centuries old tradition, the Royal Australian Navy's Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB), HMAS Wollongong, commissioned at Fleet Base East today.

Wollongong is the tenth of 14 state-of-the-art ACPBs to be commissioned into service and was built by Western Australian ship builder Austal Ships. The first ACPB, HMAS Armidale, was commissioned in June 2005 and several of her sister ships are already operational.

In today's ceremony, the ship's Commissioning Order was read and the Australian White Ensign was hoisted for the first time. The ensign used was the same one hauled down from the previous Wollongong, a Fremantle Class Patrol Boat that decommissioned in January 2006.

In attendance was Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, representing the Minster for Defence and the Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Davyd Thomas, AM, CSC, RAN.

"This is a joyous occasion for my crew and the Navy - the result of many months of hard work preparing Wollongong for her introduction into service and commencement of border protection role." Commanding Officer HMAS Wollongong, LCDR Mark Taylor, RAN said.

"HMAS Wollongong, with her state of the art design, will provide considerable improvements in both operational capability as well as crew habitability," Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Davyd Thomas said. "The Fremantle Class Patrol Boats conducted sterling work over the past 27 years, but these new vessels will add a new dimension to border security."

HMAS Wollongong is the second of four ACPBs to be based in Cairns, Queensland. She is part of the ARDENT Division that consists of six crews. The multi-crewing concept is designed to maximise platform availability without compromising crew respite and training periods.

In attendance were veterans from the first ship to bear the name Wollongong, a Bathurst Class Corvette, which served with distinction during World War II.