Armidale Class Patrol Boat in Cockburn Sound Western Austalia. Photograph by: Chief Petty Officer Photographer Malcolm Back

In late September the Maritime Commander of Australia, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas directed an operational pause of the Royal Australian Navy’s Armidale Class Patrol Boats, following identification of a potential class safety issue with the main engine fuel system.

The Australian Defence Force implemented the pause as a safety precaution until it determined the cause of the fuel problem.

A thorough technical investigation was conducted which identified water contamination in three of the seven Armidale Class Patrol Boats' fuel systems.

Defence released the four ships unaffected by water contamination back to normal operations in the second week of October after completing systems checks.

The cause of the water contamination in the three affected ships remains under investigation and they will undergo repairs to their engines and fuel systems before resuming normal operations in late October.

Rear Admiral Thomas said he remained confident in the performance and capability of the Armidale fleet.