ADV Cape Fourcroy

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Fourcroy and ADV Cape Inscription are Cape class patrol boats, and along with 13 Armidale class patrol boats are Navy’s principal contribution to the nation’s fisheries protection, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations. The vessels work hand-in-hand with other government agencies as part of the Australian Border Force. In the event of war they would be tasked to control the waters close to the Australian mainland.

ADV Cape Fourcroy is one of two Cape class patrol boats introduced into service with the Royal Australian Navy to supplement the Armidale class patrol boat capability.

ADV Cape Fourcroy is crewed by two crews, ‘Port’ and ‘Starboard’, with one crew embarked and one disembarked at any given time.

Most importantly, patrols boats are a primary enabler of the Australian Defence Force contribution to Operation SOVEREIGN BORDERS, which is a whole of government effort to protect Australia’s borders and offshore interests.

The operations in association with Border Force, Australian Fisheries and Australian Federal Police protect against unauthorised entry, breaches of customs, immigration and drugs legislation, other illegal activity and in support of law enforcement, preserve the integrity of our national fish-stocks, our marine environment and other natural resources.

When protecting Australia's borders, patrol boat crews are typically employed on a range of constabulary duties involving tracking, intercepting, stopping and boarding other vessels, and sometimes arresting their crews and seizing cargo.