Australian gov’t donates patrol boat to Maldives

The government of Australia has donated a Guardian-class patrol boat to the government of Maldives.

The decision to donate a Guardian-class patrol boat to the Maldives was announced in a joint statement issued by Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Richard Marles, and Maldives' Minister of Defence Ghassan Maumoon.

According to a statement released by the Defence Ministry, the transaction is a significant achievement for the relationship between the two countries. The statement also highlighted that this is a major step forward in enhancing the Maldives' capability to protect its maritime domain and play a crucial role in the safety and security of the Indian Ocean region.

Further, the statement noted that the boat will facilitate the interception of vessels engaged in illegal maritime activities and the detection of such operations. According to the Australian Defence, the Guardian-class patrol boat is currently under construction. They have revealed that the boat is expected to be completed by next year. The Australian Defence has also mentioned that they will develop a maintenance and sustainability plan for the vessel in collaboration with the Maldives.

In addition to this, Australia has decided to donate a multi-beam echo sounder to the Maldives. This is an instrument used for hydrographic research. The joint statement from both countries stated that this assistance will pave the way for the Maldives to acquire the capability to independently map the Maldivian seabed.

The previous administration conducted hydrographic work under an agreement with the Indian government. However, the current administration has decided not to renew and to terminate that agreement, which was established for researching Maldivian waters and creating charts.