RFNS Puamau

The RFNS Puamau is a patrol vessel, built in Australia, and given to Fiji, as part of a program where Australia provided its neighbours in the Pacific Islands Forum with the means to protect their Exclusive Economic Zones.^[1]^[2] She was supplied to Fiji in March of 2024.

Background

The Paumau is the second Guardian class patrol vessel supplied to Fiji.^[2]^[3] The Guardian class was designed to replace the Pacific Forum Patrol vessels Australia provided in the early 1990s.^[1]

Design

Both the earlier Pacific Forum class, and the Guardian class were designed to use commercial off the shelf (COTS) components, to make it easier for them to be maintained in smaller shipyards in their home countries.

Operational career

The vessel was built by shipbuilding firm Austal, in Henderson, Western Australia.^[1] After her acceptance trials she was officially handed over to Fiji in a ceremony, in Henderson. Present were Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Fiji and Pat Conroy, Australia's Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific.

The Puamau will join her sister ship RFNS Savenaca, which has been in service since 2020.^[2]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 "Fiji takes delivery of Guardian-class patrol boat". Australian Defence Magazine. 2024-03-07. Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-11. The RFNS Puamau is the second vessel delivered to Fiji, and the 19th vessel delivered under the Pacific Maritime Security Program – Australia’s 30-year commitment of uninterrupted engagement with our Pacific partners in support of a stable, prosperous and secure region.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 "Austal Australia delivers 19th Guardian-class patrol boat". Market Insider. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11. The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2016, with subsequent, contract options awarded in April 2018 and November 2022 taking the project to 22 vessels, valued at more than A$350 million, in total. Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Timor-Leste are receiving vessels.
↑ "Republic of Fiji Navy acquires new patrol boat". Baird Maritime. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11. The vessel has a steel hull, a length of 39.5 metres, and an integrated stern launch and recovery system for use by a rigid inflatable boat. Missions will include maritime law enforcement, border patrol, and search and rescue.

[AustralianDefenceMagazine2024-03-07-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 "Fiji takes delivery of Guardian-class patrol boat". Australian Defence Magazine. 2024-03-07. Archived from the original on 2024-03-07. Retrieved 2024-03-11. The RFNS Puamau is the second vessel delivered to Fiji, and the 19th vessel delivered under the Pacific Maritime Security Program – Australia’s 30-year commitment of uninterrupted engagement with our Pacific partners in support of a stable, prosperous and secure region.

[businessinsider2024-03-11-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 "Austal Australia delivers 19th Guardian-class patrol boat". Market Insider. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11. The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project was awarded to Austal Australia in May 2016, with subsequent, contract options awarded in April 2018 and November 2022 taking the project to 22 vessels, valued at more than A$350 million, in total. Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Timor-Leste are receiving vessels.

[bairdmaritime2024-03-11-3] "Republic of Fiji Navy acquires new patrol boat". Baird Maritime. 2024-03-11. Retrieved 2024-03-11. The vessel has a steel hull, a length of 39.5 metres, and an integrated stern launch and recovery system for use by a rigid inflatable boat. Missions will include maritime law enforcement, border patrol, and search and rescue.

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