Austal Australia has launched the 15th Guardian-class patrol boat that the company is building for the Australian Government's Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project.
Te Kukupa II will be operated by the Cook Islands Police Service (CIPS). Like its Guardian-class sisters, the vessel has a steel monohull, an aluminium superstructure, a length of 39.5 metres, a beam of eight metres, and an integrated stern launch and recovery system for one rigid inflatable boat (RHIB) for use in at-sea interceptions and boardings.
The vessel will replace an earlier Australian-built Pacific-class patrol boat in the CIPS fleet.
