Tasmanian boatbuilder Sentinel Boats has secured a multi-million dollar contract to replace the Royal New Zealand Navy’s fleet of Naval Sea Boats.
The contract will see Sentinel build 17 ‘RHIB’ rigid-hulled inflatable boats of their Sentinel 780R design, plus an option for three additional boats.
The new boats will be constructed using High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a material that provides “unrivalled durability, impact resistance and anti-fatigue characteristics”, according to Sentinel CEO George McGuire.
“The fact that Sentinel Boats has been selected over much larger multi-national defence manufacturers is testament to the hard work and pride of the Sentinel team,” he said.
Sentinel will build the hulls at its Hobart facilities before shipping them across the ditch for final fit-out and commissioning by local partners.
The first boat is scheduled for delivery in late 2025, with the entire fleet of 17 boats to be completed by 2027.
The contract follows Sentinel’s successful delivery of three 1250 Littoral Manoeuvre Craft to the NZ Navy last year.
“We are incredibly proud to have earned the trust of the RNZN for this important project,” McGuire said.
“We are confident that we will exceed the expectations and demands of the service men and women who will use our boats as they undertake what are, at times, challenging and demanding operations.”
“Our aim is to collaboratively design and build boats that allow crews to perform their mission and to get them home safely every time.”
