Today Samoa formally received the Guardian-class Patrol Boat, the Nafanua III, handed over by the Australian Government. The Nafanua III was officially received by the Hon Harry Jeffrey, Minister for Police and Prisons and Auapaau Logotino Filipo, Police Commissioner on behalf of the Samoan Government at a ceremony in Perth. With an increased sail capacity the Nafanua III will help continue Samoa’s important work in protecting its maritime sovereignty, enhancing its surveillance capability. It will also allow for faster humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts when required. The Pacific Maritime Security Program is a 30-year commitment by the Australian Government to ensure uninterrupted engagement with our Pacific partners in support of a stable, prosperous and secure region.
Tania Lawrence MP, Federal Member for Hasluck, represented the Deputy Prime Minister at the ceremony. Quotes attributable to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP:“The Australian Defence Force shares a deep and enduring partnership with the Samoa Police Service, and it is fantastic to see the delivery of Nafanua III, which will play a critical role in supporting regional maritime security efforts. Austal’s continued commitment to building world-class capability right here in Australia will mean safer waters and stronger responses to shared maritime challenges for our Pacific partners.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP: “Australia is pleased to deliver another Guardian class patrol boat to an important Pacific partner, Samoa, to strengthen Samoa’s maritime security, including its ability to protect valuable fisheries in its waters.We are proud to be the partner of choice for members of the Pacific family, and as part of that, to be providing a vessel that’s designed and built in Australia.”
Nafanua III (04) is a Guardian-class patrol boat entering service with the Samoan Police Force. She was given to Samoa by Australia as part of the Pacific Maritime Security Program, in which Australia donates patrol boats to neighbouring Pacific Island nations in order to improve regional maritime security. She is the 2nd boat given to Samoa under the program, as she was ordered by Australia on 2 November 2022 as a replacement for her sister ship Nafanua II, which was damaged beyond repair when she ran aground on 5 August 2021. Nafanua II had only two years earlier replaced the 31 year old Pacific-class patrol boat Nafanua as the small island nation’s sole maritime security craft. Although she was ordered as the 22nd and ultimate boat of her class, she was delivered on 22 November 2023 as the 18th.
