Timor Leste orders two Pacific Patrol Boats

Timor Leste has agreed to order two Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boats (PPBs) built by Australian shipbuilder Austal.

Timor Leste is a new member of Australia's Pacific Maritime Security Program, which will now build 21 steel-hulled vessels to replace the existing fleet of PPBs.

The order adds to the AU$305 million (US$234 million) PPB contract awarded to Austal in May 2016 for 19 vessels.

Austal CEO David Singleton said handover of the first vessel was scheduled for the third quarter of 2018.