Govt to buy new border patrol vessels

Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor has announced the procurement of eight new border protection patrol vessels to replace the existing Bay class (pictured) from early 2013.

"The new vessels will be larger, more robust and have a greater patrolling range than the Bay class vessels that they will replace," Mr O'Connor said.

"They could also accommodate more crew members.

"The patrol boats will work in challenging ocean conditions around Australia, predominantly in Northern Australia."

Each of the new Cape class patrol vessels will be named after a cape in each state and territory of Australia.

The eight new vessels will be named St George (ACT), Byron (NSW), Nelson (Victoria), Sorell (Tasmania), Jervis (SA), Leveque (WA), Wessel (NT) and York (Queensland).

"These patrol boats will help our hardworking Customs and Border Protection staff to deal with illegal exploitation of natural resources, illegal foreign fishing, suspected irregular entry vessels, marine pollution, piracy, robbery and violence at sea," Mr O'Connor said.

Initial exposure documents are now available at the AusTender website, www.tenders.gov.au, including the Operational Concept Document and Functional Performance Specification.

Interested parties in the maritime industry are invited to engage with Customs and Border Protection prior to the release of the request for tender on 30 June 2010.

An industry brief will be conducted in mid-July for interested participants.

The cost of the procurement of the eight new vessels is in addition to the $1.2 billion allocated for border security in the 2010-11 Budget.