RSIPF maritime boosted with commissioning of new Guardian class patrol boat GIZO

The maritime capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has been boosted with the commissioning of the new Guardian class patrol boat, 05 GIZO during a ceremony in Honiara today.

The RSIPV GIZO is a gift from the people and government of Australia to the people and government of Solomon Islands.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, MP commissioned thee RSIPV Gizo during a ceremony attended by several hundred guests including the Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services, Hon. Anthony Veke, MP, Acting Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Ms Sally Anne Vincent, Australian Defence Force officials, the RSIPF executive and other partners and stakeholders.

Speaking before the commissioning, Acting Commissioner of the RSIPF, Mostyn Mangau thanked the governments of Solomon Islands and Australia for making available the new patrol boat.

“The maritime security partnership between Australia and the Solomon Islands has been in place for almost 40 years with the first patrol boat gifted in the early 1980’s. Our countries share common values and a commitment to regional security.”
“To the Director RSIPF Maritime, the captain and crew of our new Guardian Class Patrol Boat Gizo, you bear a great responsibility for the use and safekeeping of this vessel. I commend your efforts in delivering PB Gizo to our shores on in its maiden voyage. This vessel is the pride of our fleet and will protect our borders and support our neighbours,” says Acting Commissioner Mangau.
He explains: “The RSIPF Maritime will utilise our new patrol boat for:
• Maritime surveillance and Law enforcement
• The protection of Natural resources and Surveillance of the Solomon Islands/Papua New Guineas common border
• Response to National Disasters and Humanitarian Response
•

Maritime Search and Rescue

• Support to General Policing / Crime Response and Regional Maritime security e.g. maritime operations coordinated by FFA for regional Island nations.”
“This new patrol boat will certainly enhance the RSIPF Maritime capability. It will enable the RSIPF to support its key partners including the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Administration (SIMSA) under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Immigrations Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Labour and Immigration, Customs & Excise Department of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) who have traditionally worked in collaboration with the RSIPF Maritime.”

The Pacific Patrol boat replacement project is part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Maritime Security Program that aims to enhance practical maritime security cooperation across the South Pacific. The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project broadens and further strengthens the region’s capability to responds to issues such as fisheries protection, trans-national crime, and search and rescue through the provision of patrol boats to Pacific Island nations.

The Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement program comprises 21 vessels for delivery to 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor Leste from late 2018 to 2023. The RSIPV Gizo, the first of the two vessels that Solomon Islands will receive under the Program, is capable of travelling 3,000 nautical miles with a crew of 23.

The two new Guardian class patrol boats will replace the Pacific Patrol Boat RSIPV Lata, which has already been decommissioned, and the RSIPF Auki which is still operating at the moment.