General
‘Deficient’ shipment of Chinese aluminium forces delay to Navy’s Cape Class patrol boats
Poor quality aluminium imported from China is being blamed for the delayed delivery of the Royal Australian Navy’s new $350 million evolved Cape Class patrol boats.
Key points:
- The launch date for the new fleet of Cape Class patrol boats has been delayed
- A “quality issue” was detected in a batch of aluminium sourced from China
- The Department of Defence is yet to respond to requests for comment about the delays
In May last year West Australian shipbuilder Austal was awarded a contract to build six of the 58-metre vessels to replace the Navy’s ageing Armidale Class patrol boat fleet.
The ABC can now reveal the launch date for the new fleet has been delayed after a “quality issue” was detected in a batch of aluminium sourced from China.
A…
-
General21 hours agoYoung boy flown to Brisbane hospital after K’gari dingo attack
-
General6 hours agoByford rail extension opening marks final stage of Perth Metronet
-
General18 hours agoBritish and US planes fly 12-hour mission to patrol Russian border
-
Noosa News22 hours agoWarm weather could make way for rain with ‘damaging winds, large hail’