The Papua New Guinea Defence Force celebrated the commissioning of the first Guardian-class Patrol Boat, HMPNGS Ted Diro, on 1st February. This is the first of 21 Guardian class Patrol Boats to be gifted to 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, the successor to the original Pacific Patrol Boat Program in which Australia gifted vessels to Pacific Island nations between 1987 and 1997.
The Pacific Maritime Security Program relates to Australia’s AUD $2 billion commitment over 30 years to the Pacific and will support Pacific island nations to safeguard their maritime sovereignty and resources.
The Guardian class Patrol Boats are expected to better support operations in a wider range of maritime security issues, including transnational crime and illegal fishing.
Except from the 21 vessels, the Pacific Maritime Security Program includes contracted region-wide fixed wing aerial surveillance and training support, the continuation of Defence’s maritime adviser network, and infrastructure upgrades to support the safe and secure berthing of the vessels.
Papua New Guinea’s former Pacific Patrol Boat, ex-HMPNGS Rabaul, arrived in Australia for environmentally responsible disposal in October 2018, and NUSHIP Ted Diro was handed over to Papua New Guinea in November.
‘Ted Diro’ is named after the first Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force post-independence.
