Finnish RHIBs for Australian OPVs
Finland’s Boomeranger Boats has received a contract from the Australian Department of Defence to supply Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) for the SEA 1180 Phase 1 Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) programme.
The company will deliver two davit launched 8.5 metre Fast Rescue Boats and one 10.5 metre ramp-launched Special Operations Boat for each of the Royal Australian Navy’s Arafura class OPVs – 41 RHIBs in total.
The RHIBs have inboard engines, and will be capable of undertaking a range of missions including maritime patrol and response.
Both of the RHIB models are existing designs from earlier projects delivered by Boomeranger. The 10.5 metre sea boat is an enhanced variant of the ramp-launched RHIB of the original Luerssen OPV delivered to the Royal Brunei Navy.
The RHIBs will be delivered over a period of ten years. The first delivery will arrive to support acceptance of the first OPV in 2021.
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