ABFC Cape Wessel

{{Short description|Cape-class patrol boat of the Australian Border Force}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox ship begin|display title=ABFC Cape Wessel}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Cape York patrol boat at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia, December 2020 04.jpg |Ship caption=ABFC Cape York, sister ship of Cape Wessel, at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia in December 2020 }} {{Infobox ship career |Ship country=Australia |Ship flag=File:Australian Border Force Flag.svg |Ship namesake=Cape Wessel |Ship builder=Austal, Henderson, Western Australia |Ship laid down= |Ship launched= |Ship commissioned=2015 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship identification=*{{IMO number|9684615}} {{MMSI Number|503000010}} Callsign: VHJS |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship status= |Ship notes= |Ship badge= |Ship homeport= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Ship class={{sclass2|Cape|patrol boat}} |Ship displacement= |Ship length={{convert|57.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|10.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=2 x Caterpillar 3516C main engines with output of {{cvt|2,525|kW|lk=on}} |Ship speed={{convert|25|kn}} |Ship range={{cvt|4000|nmi}} at {{convert|12|kn}} |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= |Ship complement=18 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=2 × 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns |Ship notes= }}

ABFC Cape Wessel, named after Cape Wessel in the Northern Territory, is a {{sclass2|Cape|patrol boat}} of the marine unit of the Australian Border Force.{{cite news |author= |date=21 August 2018 |title=Cape Class Patrol Boats |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/cape-class-patrol-boats/#catfish |work=Naval Technology |location= |access-date=18 July 2023}}

The ship was the seventh of eight Cape-class patrol boats to be delivered to the Australian Border Force. The boat, built by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia, had its keel laid in July 2014 and delivered in August 2015.

Austal was awarded a $350{{nbsp}}million contract to construct eight Cape-class patrol boats for the Australian Border Force to replace the Bay-class patrol boats in 2011, with the eight boats delivered between 2013 and 2015.{{cite news |author= |date=18 August 2022 |title=Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats, Australia |url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/evolved-cape-class-patrol-boats-australia/ |work=Naval Technology |location= |access-date=18 July 2023}}{{cite news |author= |date=2 May 2020 |title=Six More Austal-Built Cape-Class Patrol Boats For The Royal Australian Navy |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/05/six-more-austal-built-cape-class-patrol-boats-for-the-royal-australian-navy/ |work=Naval News |location= |access-date=18 July 2023}}