HMPNGS Rabaul Retires After 31 Years of Service
24 Oktober 2018 HMPNGS Rabaul (photo : aje162000) Pacific Patrol Boat former HMPNGS Rabaul completes final voyage Yesterday marked the end of an era for former HMPNGS Rabaul, which has completed its final voyage to Port Macquarie from Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, after 31 years of service with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force. The patrol boat was gifted to Papua New Guinea in May 1987 under the Pacific Patrol Boat Program, which ultimately delivered 22 vessels to Pacific Island nations. Papua New Guinea received four Pacific Patrol Boats, which have been the bedrock of successful Australia-Papua New Guinea maritime security cooperation for over 30 years. The Commanding Officer of the Pacific Patrol Boat handed the keys to the Commonwealth in Port Macquarie yesterday, to enable environmentally responsible disposal of the vessel. The crew will travel to the Defence International Training Centre and then to Western Australia for training before receiving the first of their f...