Pacific-class

The Pacific class, also known as the Pacific Forum class or ASI 315 class, is a patrol boat design built by Australian Shipbuilding Industries (later Tenix) in Western Australia. It was created under the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, a Defence Cooperation Project announced by Prime Minister Bob Hawke at the 1983 South Pacific Forum after several island nations asked Australia and New Zealand for help policing their exclusive economic zones. Beyond the vessels themselves, the program funded crew training and shore infrastructure in the recipient countries.

Twenty-two boats were delivered between 1987 and 1997 to twelve nations, where they serve with defence forces, coast guards or police maritime wings. Papua New Guinea received four, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia and Tonga three each, the Solomon Islands two, and the Cook Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu one apiece. The boats are gifted rather than sold, with Australia retaining responsibility for sustainment.

The design is a 31.5-metre steel hull displacing 162 tonnes at full load, driven by two Caterpillar 3516TA diesels for a top speed of 20 knots and a range of 2,500 nautical miles at 12 knots. Endurance is about ten days with a crew of 14 to 18. Armament varies by operator and is often limited to small arms, reflecting the constabulary role of fisheries protection, search and rescue, and customs enforcement. Canada's Orca-class patrol vessel is derived from the design, at roughly 15 percent larger.

The class is being replaced under the Pacific Maritime Security Program by the larger Guardian-class patrol boats, built by Austal and delivered from 2018.