![Photo: Austal Australia](http://media.assettype.com/bairdmaritime%2Fimport%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F211025-1-Austal.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
Austal Australia has delivered the 13th Guardian-class patrol boat to the Australian Department of Defence (DOD).
The future HMPNGS Francis Agwi was then formally handed over to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, which will operate the vessel on missions including border patrols, regional policing, and search and rescue. Among its onboard facilities is an integrated launch and recovery system for one rigid inflatable boat (RIB).
The 39.5-metre steel monohull vessel is the third of four Guardian-class boats slated for the PNG Defence Force.