HMAS Cape Schank and Cape Solander commissioned at HMAS Coonawarra

These ships will be used to secure 10 per cent of the world’s surface area, and they’re harboured here in Darwin. Read the details.

Two more hi-tech patrol boats were commissioned at HMAS Coonawarra on Thursday.

These evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats form part of the eight vessel fleet based in Darwin.

HMAS Cape Schanck and HMAS Cape Solander will each have a crew of 25 personnel.

Commander of Surface Force, Commodore Terence Morrison, said the new vessels had already started to patrol Australia’s northern waters.

Commodore Morrison inspecting the crew of the two ships.

“These vessels have already been patrolling our sovereignty and security,” Commodore Morrison said.

“Australia has the third largest exclusive economic zone in the world — so we have a huge area to patrol.

“We look for incursions on our sovereignty including illegal fishing, immigration, customs, quarantine and drug enforcement.”

Top End waters have seen a recent spike in illegal incursions by foreign fishermen. 

An Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AMFA) spokesman said 176 Indonesian fishers have been prosecuted in Darwin Local Court since July 1, 2024.

Most fishermen are harvesting trepang, also known as sea cucumber. Picture: Australian Border Force

Recently 19 Indonesian fishermen from five different boats were prosecuted at Darwin Local Court on April 15.

Commodore Morrison said the two new vessels would help to deter these types of illegal incursions.

“These vessels are definitely a deterrence and definitely there to enforce our laws,” he said.

“Illegal fishermen are an enduring issue that we manage and the Royal Australian Navy has been providing vessels and crews for decades in support of these efforts to uphold our laws.”

Commander of the Surface Force, Commodore Terence Morrison said illegal incursions by foreign fishermen in the NT is a decades old problem Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Top End is increasingly becoming an area of strategic defence importance.

In April it was revealed the Russian military had allegedly approached Indonesia to operate military planes out of the Indonesian island of Biak Numfor, less than two hours flying time and approximately 1300 kilometres northeast of Darwin.

At the end of April more than 300 professionals from defence, government and industry attended the Northern Australian Defence Summit which was held at the Darwin Convention Centre.

Two of the Evolved Cape Patrol Boats at HMAS Coonawarra on December 12, 2024. Picture: Darcy Fitzgerald

There retired US Marine commander, lieutenant general John Wissler gave attendees a dire warning. 

“Since last year, things have only gotten worse in terms of the challenge,” he said.

“And that primary challenge, I’m not going to dance around the topic, is China.

“Russia is (also) growing its capability and influence in the Pacific.

“That influence is significant — they’ve added three submarines to their Pacific fleet (in 2024).

“None of our countries, independently, have an industrial base right now that will defeat that of China.”

Originally published as HMAS Cape Schank and Cape Solander commissioned at HMAS Coonawarra