New landing craft delivered to Tonga
Australia has successfully delivered a new landing craft vessel to Tonga, with an official handover ceremony taking place at the Masefield Naval Base.
CAPTION: The new landing craft Late, which was delivered to Tonga at a handover ceremony at Masefield Naval Base on 29 August 2025. ADF image supplied.
The ceremony was attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto‘a ‘Ulukalala, Tonga’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces, who received the vessel on behalf of Tonga.
The VOEA Late, provided under the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP), will enhance Tonga’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities, as well as their ability to deter, detect and disrupt illegal maritime activities in the region.
Australia will provide a comprehensive package of through-life maintenance and sustainment for the vessel, alongside training for Tonga Royal Navy crew members.
Defence’s First Assistant Secretary Pacific Division Susan Bodell said the delivery highlighted Australia’s commitment to supporting our Pacific partners’ maritime security.
“Australia and Tonga share a trusted and enduring security partnership,” Ms Bodell said.
“The delivery of the new landing craft builds on decades of partnership, and upholds our shared commitment to sovereignty, security and prosperity in the Pacific.”
The delivery follows the completion of comprehensive training undertaken by Tonga Royal Navy personnel at the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania, which equipped the crew with the necessary skills to safely operate the vessel.
PMSP is Australia’s 30-year commitment to increase national and regional maritime security throughout the Pacific, and builds on three decades of success in the original Pacific Patrol Boat Program.
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For the pedants amongst us, the VOEA Late (A402) is an INCAT CROWTHER 30 (see incatcrowther.com/ships/workboats/utility-and-multi-purpose ). Incat Crowther are a naval architecture company headquartered in Belrose, Sydney with their designs being built, under contract, by many shipyards around the world. Unfortunately, I couldn’t track down the actual shipyard for the VOEA Late, but its predecessor and namesake the VOEA Late (A401) was also designed by Incat Crowther and built by Forgacs Marine and Defence in Newcastle, New South Wales. Forgacs have been taken over by Civicmec (civmec.com.au), but I couldn’t find any reference to a recently completed INCAT CROWTHER 30 on their website.