The ship is the third of ten evolved Cape-class patrol boats to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy. Prior to Cape Naturaliste, the RAN already operated the Cape-class patrol boats and as well as the evolved Cape-class patrol boats and .[1] [2] [3]
The ship was built by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia, commissioned on 4 November 2022 and based at in Darwin, Northern Territory. Cape Naturaliste was officially welcomed in Darwin in June 2023, alongside her sister ship, becoming the first evolved Cape-class patrol boats to be based there. The patrol boat's primary duty lies in fisheries protection, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations.[1] [2] [3]
The ship is one of the original six evolved Cape-class patrol boats the RAN ordered in April 2020 to replace the s in this role, at a projected cost of A$324million. This order was subsequently expanded by another two boats in April 2022, at an additional projected cost of $124million.[4] In November 2023, the RAN ordered a further two evolved Cape-class patrols, at a cost of A$157.1million.[5]