VOEA_Ngahau_Koula_(P301)
VOEA Ngahau Koula (P301)
Ship built in 2019
VOEA Ngahau Koula (P301) is a Guardian-class patrol vessel designed and built for the Tonga Maritime Force by Australia.[1][2] After the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea established that all maritime nation were entitled to exercise control over a 200-kilometre (120 mi) exclusive economic zone, Australia agreed to give small patrol boats to Tonga and eleven other neighbours in the Pacific Islands Forum.
Tonga was given three Pacific Forum-class patrol vessels in 1989, 1990 and 1991, VOEA Neiafu, VOEA Pangai and VOEA Savea. Those vessels were designed to have a working life of at least 30 years, so Australia designed the Guardian class, a slightly larger, and more capable replacement class. Australia delivered Ngahau Koula to Tonga on June 21, 2019.[3][4] A second replacement vessel will follow in 2021.[5][6]
The vessel's name means "Golden Arrow".[7] She has been designed to be able to accommodate crews of mixed gender.