Questions raised over Australia’s Guardian ship
This is the Guardian-class patrol boat PSS President HI Remeliik II, which was donated to Palau by Australia. (Department of Defence)
Technical faults have been reported in patrol boats being donated by Australia to its Pacific neighbours.
Austal Australia is building 22 Guardian-class patrol boats for Pacific nations, but faults have been identified that have seen a number of vessels awaiting rectification.
The chief problem relates to the type’s exhaust system.
In a statement to Shephard, Austal Australia said it was working with the Australian Department of Defence to ‘develop both temporary rectification measures and a long-term solution to an emerging issue with the exhaust systems on the Guardian-class patrol boats constructed by Austal’.
The shipbuilder added: ‘The supplier of the vessels’ exhaust systems is also providing technical advice to both parties. In addition, Austal is
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