RSIPF to farewell Patrol Boat Lata

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) will farewell the Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel (RSIPV) Lata on 11 September 2019 at Aola Base, Point Cruz in Honiara.

Assistant Commissioner Operations, Chief Superintendent Alfred Uiga says, “The Police Patrol boat Lata was gifted by the Government of Australia to the RSIPF in 1988 to the RSIPF under its Regional Defence Cooperation Program. It was named Lata, after the capital town of Temotu Province.”

“For the past 30 years she had been involved in operational duties including border patrols, 200 miles Exclusive Economic Zone patrols (EEZ) and other deployments including disaster relief within the Pacific region.”

The RSIPV Lata has 19 crew on board and it has become home to officers who served on her.

“RSIPV Lata has been home away from home for our Maritime boys. She had offered them home and comfort through storms and fine weather. ”

RSIPV Lata will be farewelled during a ceremony at the Maritime Aola base and will be sailed back to Australia on 12 September 2019.

The Lata will be replaced by a bigger patrol boat under the Australian Regional Defence Cooperation Program which is expected to arrive in Solomon Islands before the end of this year.