Australia-based Austal Shipyard has announced that the first Guardian-class Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) has begun sea trials. The PPBs designed and built by Austal will be donated to the island states in the Pacific by Australia, under the Sea 3036 Pacific Patrol Boat Program.

The first Guardian Class boat, with hull number 401, christened as Ted Diro, was launched on May 29 at the Henderson Complex in Western Australia. With the Sea 3036 program, Australia plans to donate 21 new boats to replace boats donated from 1987-1997 to the island states in the Pacific.