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Gizo in the Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia.
History
Solomon Islands
NamesakeGizo
OperatorRoyal Solomon Islands Police Force
Yard number525
Acquired8 November 2019[1]
Commissioned19 December 2019
HomeportAola Base, Point Cruz (Honiara)
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
TypePatrol boat
Length39.5 m (129 ft 7 in)
Beam8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Propulsion2 × Caterpillar 3516C diesels, 2 shafts
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement23
Sensors and
processing systems
  • X-band radar
  • differential GPS
  • gyrocompass
  • depth sounding machine
  • Electronic Chart Display and Information System
  • autopilot

RSIPV Gizo (05) is a Guardian-class patrol boat in service with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Maritime Department. She was the fifth boat of her class to be completed.[1][2][3][4] Australian officials officially handed her over to representatives of the Solomon Islands on 8 November 2019, at the Austal shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.

She is the first of two Guardian-class vessels that Australia provided to the Solomon Islands, and replaced RSIPV Lata.[5][6] Her sister ship is RSIPV Taro.

Background

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Main articles: RSIPV Lata, RSIPV Auki, and Background of the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Program
Pacific-class patrol boat
Pacific class RSIPV Lata

Following the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Pacific Islands nations found themselves in need of capable yet economical vessels to patrol their exclusive economic zones. In an effort to improve regional maritime security as well as diplomatic relations with the island states, the Australian government launched the Pacific Patrol Boat Program in 1983, in which they would build and gift 22 Pacific-class patrol boats to 12 Pacific Island nations over the next 14 years.[7] The patrol boats were built with commercial off-the-shelf-components in order to ease maintenance costs for the island nations. Australia remained involved with maintaining the class for the next three decades, with a refit after 15 years of operation.

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force received RSIPV Lata in 1988 and her sister ship RSIPV Auki in 1991, and would operate both for the next three decades. During a period of ethnic violence, Lata was reportedly commandeered by rebels in June 2000, and used to bombard the capital Honiara.[8] Lata was decommissioned in Honiara on 11 September 2019, before RSIPV Gizo was delivered in December.[9]

The Australian government announced the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project on 17 June 2014.[10] A contract for the construction of at least 19 boats and an initial seven-year maintenance and support period was signed with Austal on 4 May 2016.[11][12][13] The keel of the first vessel was laid on 30 July 2017, before she was launched on 30 May 2018.[13][14][15][16][17]

Design

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Aerial view of HMPNGS Rochus Lokinap
Aerial view of HMPNGS Rochus Lokinap moored at Manus, Papua New Guinea, on 14 August 2022 (Photo by US Coast Guard)
Main article: Guardian-class patrol boat § Design

The Guardian class uses a steel monohull design based on that of the Bay class, which had been in service with the Australian Border Force since 1999.[11][18] The patrol boats are 39.5 metres (129 ft 7 in) long with two habitable internal decks below the bridge.[7] They are capable of traveling 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph), and have a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). They have two Caterpillar 3516C 2,000-kilowatt (2,700 hp) diesel engines powering two fixed-pitch propellers.[13][19] A key design goal being ease of maintenance to accommodate small and isolated shipyards, the class uses commercial off-the-shelf components.[13] They are slightly larger and more capable than the Pacific class.

In addition to the commanding officer's quarters, the boats have seven living quarters designed to berth 20 crew members. Three of them are staterooms that have their own showers in order to accommodate a mixed-sex crew. They also have a sick bay with a separate ventilation system, which during normal operations is used as two berths, bringing the total complement up to 23.[7][20]

The vessels have a stern launching ramp for a WRH635 fast rescue boat.[7][13][18][21] These are SOLAS-certified rigid-hulled inflatable boats designed to carry up to 15 persons. They are 6.35 metres (20 ft 10 in) long, with two Yamaha 67 kW (90 hp) outboard motors and an operational weight of 2,612.5 kilograms (5,760 lb).[22][23] The stern is also equipped with a port side crane serving a 16-square-metre (170 sq ft) cargo deck.[13][19]

Australia instructed that the boats would be delivered without armament, but they were designed to be capable of mounting an autocannon of up to 30 millimetres (1.2 in) on their foredeck, and a 0.50-calibre machine gun both port and starboard in front of the bridge.[7]

In June 2022, three design flaws were reported in the media. This included cracking in the coupling between the engine and the gear box, the sick bay ventilation system recirculating air and an exhaust leak causing carbon monoxide to enter the normally non-crewed engine compartment.[24][25][26]

Role

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According to Mostyn Mangau Solomon Islands Deputy Commissioner of Police: "This new boat is purposely to conduct maritime surveillance and enforcement operations like fighting illegal fishing, search and rescue for distress boats, VIP escorts and other border operations."[27][28]

Operational career

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Gizo was officially commissioned on 19 December 2019.[29] VIPs attending the commissioning included Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Anthony Veke and Australian High Commissioner Sally Anne Vincent. Acting Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau called Gizo "the pride of the fleet".[28] Gizo was joined by HMAS Maryborough on her maiden voyage.[30] The crews of the two vessels conducted joint training exercises on the voyage.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Australia supports Solomon Island's security priorities". Mirage News. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019. The Australian Government has today handed over the latest Guardian-class Patrol Boat RSIPV Gizo to the Solomon Islands at a ceremony in Henderson, Western Australia.
  2. ^ Stephen Kuper (9 November 2019). "Australia delivers next Guardian patrol boat to Solomon Islands". Defence Connect. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the handover of the patrol boat reinforced Solomon Islands' position as one of Australia's key partners in the Pacific region.
  3. ^ Gabriel Dominguez (8 November 2019). "Australia hands over Guardian-class patrol boat to Solomon Islands". Jane's Defence Weekly. London. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019. The Guardian class has an overall length of 39.5 m, a beam of 8 m, and can accommodate a crew of 23. It is powered by two Caterpillar 3516C engines and can attain a top speed of 20 kt.
  4. ^ Xavier Vavasseur (8 November 2019). "Austal Delivers Guardian-Class Patrol Boat RSIPV Gizo For Solomon Islands". Naval News. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. The RSIPV Gizo is one of two Guardian Class Patrol Boats to be delivered to and operated by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, replacing the RSIPV Lata that has been in service since 1988.
  5. ^ "Timor Leste's future Patrol Boats". Monch Publishing Group. 19 April 2018. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2018. The PICS will receive their new patrol boats as follows: Cook Islands (1 vessel); Federated States of Micronesia (2 vessels); Fiji (2 vessels); Kiribati (1 vessel); Palau (1 vessel); Papua New Guinea (4 vessels); Republic of the Marshall Islands (1 vessel); Samoa (1 vessel); Solomon Islands (2 vessels); Timor Leste (2 vessels); Tonga (2 vessels); Tuvalu (1 vessel); Vanuatu (1 vessel).
  6. ^ "RSIPF thank Australian gov't". Solomon Star News. 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 21 July 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2018. Commissioner Varley explains: "The new Guardian class of patrol boats will be much larger with increased capacity and extended range compared to the current Pacific class of patrol boats. This will be great especially for patrolling of Solomon Islands large maritime border."
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Australia's Defence Engagement in the Pacific: 2016 Defence White Paper". Australian Navy. 2016. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018. The Pacific Patrol Boats are gifted by Australia as sovereign assets, and have enabled Pacific Island countries to take an active role in securing their own borders and resources – to the benefit of the region overall. The PPBs are used to undertake a wide range of tasks, from fisheries enforcement, to Search and rescue, to movement of ballot boxes.
  8. ^ "Pacific patrol boat program". Nautilus Institute. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019. The Defence Co-operation Program became controversial through the 1990s with Australian supplied patrol boats and helicopters used for the blockade of Bougainville. Australian military aid to the PNGDF in the early limited the ways in which Australia was perceived as an honest broker in ending the conflict. In June 2000, the Australian-supplied patrol boat Lata in Solomon Islands was also used by Malaitan militias to attack Guadalcanal villages.
  9. ^ "Solomons patrol boat decommissioned after 31 years of service". Radio New Zealand. 11 September 2019. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019. Work is underway to extend the wharf at the police maritime base at Point Cruz in preparation for the new patrol boat, which is at least 10 metres longer than the current ones.
  10. ^ a b "Maritime security strengthened through Pacific Patrol Boat Program" (Press release). Australian Government: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 August 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d Paddy, Gregg (2 August 2021). "Austal Australia delivers 12th Guardian Class Patrol Boat" (Press release). Henderson, Western Australia: Austal. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2022. under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1), part of the Australian Government's Pacific Maritime Security Program; and replaces the RVS Tukoro, a Pacific-class Patrol Boat delivered in 1987.
  12. ^ a b "Minister for Defence - Contract signed for replacement Pacific Patrol Boats". Department of Defence (Press release). 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2017. As part of the $280 million (ex-GST) contract Austal will design and construct the first 19 vessels in Henderson, securing more than 120 jobs for Western Australia.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h "Austal Pacific Patrol Boat 40". Naval Technology. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Under the contract, Austal will offer support services to the replacement patrol boats initially for seven years.
  14. ^ a b "Keel laying for first Pacific Patrol Boat replacement". Monch Publishing Group. 30 July 2017. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018. The new 'Guardian' class patrol boats will come to replace the 12 Pacific Island nations' ageing 'Pacific' class patrol boats, which had been gifted by Australia under the PPB programme implemented in 1983. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery to Papua New Guinea, who will receive a total of four patrol boats, by October 2018 and the last vessel is scheduled for delivery by 2023.
  15. ^ a b Minister for Defence Industry (31 July 2017). "Pacific Patrol Boat Milestone". Department of Defence (Press release). Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2017. Another milestone has been reached in Australia's continuous naval shipbuilding program with a ceremonial keel laying for the first new Pacific Patrol Boat.
  16. ^ a b David Sigston (30 May 2018). "Austal launches first Pacific Patrol Boat". News (AU). Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018. The first of a new fleet of patrol boats destined for Australia's Pacific neighbours has been launched by Australian shipbuilder Austal.
  17. ^ a b Whiting, Gemma (30 May 2018). "AUSTAL LAUNCHES FIRST GUARDIAN CLASS PACIFIC PATROL BOAT". Austal (Press release). Henderson, Australia. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022. Austal [...] today announced the first of 21 Guardian Class, Pacific Patrol Boats (PPB-R) has been launched just two years after the contract was awarded, keeping with the schedule and budget for the project. [...] with a further contract awarded in April, 2018 for two additional vessels for AU$29.7 million.
  18. ^ a b c "Guardian Class Patrol Boat (Austal Patrol 40)". austal.com. Austal. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  19. ^ a b c "Austal Pacific Patrol Boat 40" (PDF). Austal. May 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018. Austal will design, construct and deliver the 19 steel-hulled patrol boats (valued at $280 million) to 12 Pacific Island nations. The contract includes an option for two additional vessels.
  20. ^ a b Sapeer Mayron (15 August 2018). "Maritime police get $113,535 boost". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018. The change rooms are a necessary addition because in August 2019, the wing will receive an Australian government-funded Guardian Class Patrol Boat, which will be used by both male and female police.
  21. ^ a b Michael Arnold (5 February 2019). "Patrol Boats Set To Upgrade Capabilities". Fiji Post Courier. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019. They are capable of operating in Sea State 4 and are equipped with a "game changing" stern-launched zodiac (inflatable boarding vessel), which is a first for both the PNG and the Australian navy.
  22. ^ a b "WRH635 fast rescue boat 15 persons". dewolfmaritime.com. De Wolf Maritime. Retrieved 27 October 2022. The WRH635FRB [...] developed as a 15 persons Fast Rescue Boat for Survey and Stand-By vessels. [...] Overall length: 6.35 m Overall width: 2.80 m [...] Weight operational (including 15 persons and 2 x 90 HP engine): 2.612,5 kg
  23. ^ a b The Shephard News Team (16 March 2022). "Micronesia receives first Guardian-class patrol boat with another to come". Shephard Media. Christchurch. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022. 11 March. FSS Tosiwo Nakayama is one of two 39.5m-long Guardian-class boats destined for the Federated States of Micronesia under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project. Each Guardian-class vessel carries a fast rescue boat powered by two 90hp Yamaha outboard motors, deployed and retrieved by a launch and recovery system fitted at the stern. The vessels are also armed with a 30mm calibre gun along with optional 0.50cal general-purpose machine guns.
  24. ^ a b "Vanuatu's Australian-supplied patrol boat awaiting repairs". Radio New Zealand. Port Vila, Vanuatu. 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022. Vanuatu's patrol boat RVS Takuare remains docked at the SinoVan wharf in Port Vila where it has been since the second week of June because of an engine defect. [...] was producing carbon monoxide, and black smoke could be seen on the covering of the exhaust. The commander said he didn't want to risk continuing using the Takuare because the emissions could harm the team in the engine room
  25. ^ a b Hurst, Daniel (30 June 2022). "Serious defects discovered in patrol boats Australia supplied to Pacific Islands". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022. Pacific island countries may halt the use of Australian-provided patrol boats after potentially serious defects were discovered, in a blow to a $2.1bn maritime security program. [...] medical bay in the vessel uses recirculated air, rather than fresh air. [...] fault in the exhaust system. It is understood carbon monoxide was entering a compartment.
  26. ^ a b Arthur, Gordon (6 July 2022). "Questions raised over Australia's Guardian ship". Shephard Media. Christchurch. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022. 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.
  27. ^ "Mangau: new patrol boat will benefit us". Solomon Star News. 16 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019. This new boat is purposely to conduct maritime surveillance and enforcement operations like fighting illegal fishing, search and rescue for distress boats, VIP escorts and other border operations.
  28. ^ a b "Maritime Boosted with Commissioning of new Guardian Class Patrol Boat Gizo". Solomon Times. 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020. 'To the Director RSIPF Maritime, the captain and crew of our new Guardian Class Patrol Boat Gizo, you bear a great responsibility for the use and safekeeping of this vessel. I commend your efforts in delivering PB Gizo to our shores on in its maiden voyage. This vessel is the pride of our fleet and will protect our borders and support our neighbours,' says Acting Commissioner Mangau.
  29. ^ "RSIPF maritime boosted with commissioning of new Guardian class patrol boat GIZO". Solomon Star News. 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019. The maritime capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has been boosted with the commissioning of the new Guardian class patrol boat, 05 GIZO during a ceremony in Honiara today.
  30. ^ Todd Fitzgerald (3 January 2020). "Patrol boats the guardians of regional security and stability". Navy Daily. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020. Cross-decking, as it is known in naval jargon, is practised by navies all over the world and is designed to improve the personal and professional development of those fortunate enough to be selected. It is also a sign of diplomacy and trust between participating vessels.
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