VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P302)

VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P302) is the second of Tonga's two Guardian-class patrol vessels.[1][2][3][4] She is the eighth vessel of the 21 vessels in her class.[5]

VOEA Ngahau Siliva (P302) at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia, 1 August 2020.
History
Tonga
Name: VOEA Ngahau Siliva
Acquired: 30 October 2020
Status: Sea trials
General characteristics
Class and type: Guardian-class patrol vessel

Design

After the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea established that all maritime nation were entitled to exercise control over a 200-kilometre (120 mi) exclusive economic zone, Australia agreed to give small patrol boats to Tonga and eleven other neighbours in the Pacific Islands Forum.

Tonga was given three Pacific Forum-class patrol vessels in 1989, 1990 and 1991, VOEA Neiafu, VOEA Pangai and VOEA Savea. Those vessels were designed to have a working life of at least 30 years, so Australia designed the Guardian class, a slightly larger, and more capable replacement class. Australia delivered her sister ship, the third vessel of her class, VOEA Ngahau Koula, to Tonga on June 21, 2019.[6][7]

Operational career

She was formally handed over to Tonga on 30 October 2020, at Austal's shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia. The handover was attended by High Commissioner Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho and Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Siu Fifita, representing Tonga, and Melissa Price the Minister for Defence Industry and Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm, representing Australia.[1][5]

The vessel arrived at her home port, Nuku'alofa, on 16 December 2020.[8] To prevent the possibility of spreading infection of the COVID-19 virus her crew were placed under quarantine.

HM King Tupou VI commissioned the vessel on January 27, 2021.[9]

References
  1. "Delivery of Guardian-class patrol boat to Tonga". Australian Department of Defence. 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  2. Dave Morley (4 January 2018). "Forging ties in Tonga". Australian Navy. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018. Lieutenant Commander Ryan, who has been in Tonga for eight months, said the improvements were being carried out to support the arrival of Tonga’s two new Guardian-class patrol boats, which are due in mid-2019 and 2021, respectively.
  3. "Tonga to receive new patrol boats from Australia". Tonga Broadcasting. 2017-08-22. Archived from the original on 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2018-06-26. According to Component Commander of the Navy, Commander Haisi Fonohema, Tonga will receive the 2 new patrol boats by 2019-2020.
  4. "Completion of VOEA NEIAFU Refit by Australia". Government of Tonga. 2017-10-06. Archived from the original on 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2018-06-26. On completion of the refit package, the boat was handed over to the crew under the command of Lieutenant Commander Semisi Tapueluelu for work-up on upgraded systems and preparations for passage back to Tonga.
  5. Xavier Vavasseur (2020-10-30). "Tonga Receives Its Second Guardian-Class Patrol Boat". Naval News. Retrieved 2020-10-31. The 39.5 metre steel monohull patrol boat – designed, constructed and sustained by Austal Australia – is based on a proven design platform that has included the 38 metre Bay-class, 56 metre Armidale-class and 58 metre Cape-class patrol boats that are in service with the Australian Border Force and Royal Australian Navy.
  6. Ridzwan Rahmat (2019-06-21). "Tonga receives Guardian-class patrol vessel". Jane's Navy International. Archived from the original on 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2019-06-20. The Tongan Royal Navy has taken delivery of a Guardian-class patrol vessel from Australia.
  7. "Tonga receives Guardian-class Patrol Boat". Mirage News. 2019-06-21. Archived from the original on 2019-06-22. Retrieved 2019-06-20. The Tongan Royal Navy’s Ngahau Koula was received by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala and Captain Sione Ulakai, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff to His Majesty’s Armed Forces, at a ceremony in Western Australia.
  8. Nuku'alofa, Tonga (2020-12-17). "HMAF's new patrol boat and crew quarantine in harbour". Matangit Tonga. Retrieved 2020-12-18. Tonga Navy's new patrol boat, the VOEA Ngahau Siliva which arrived from Australia on December 16, remains quarantined with 22-crew at the Nuku'alofa harbour.
  9. "King Tupou VI commissions new patrol boat". Matanga Tonga. Nuku'alofa, Tonga. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-27. HM King Tupou VI commissioned the Tonga Navy's VOEA Ngahau Siliva patrol boat at the Masefield Base, Touliki, today.
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