Keka-class patrol boat

The Keka-class patrol boats are vessels designed by ASC Pty. Ltd. (formerly named Australian Submarine Corporation) originally for the Royal Thai Navy (3 vessels). A second variant series was designed for the Hong Kong Marine Police (6 vessels).

Patrol Launch 63 entering the Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter in 2008
Class overview
NameKeka-class patrol boat
BuildersCheoy Lee Shipyard, Ltd, Hong Kong
OperatorsHong Kong Police
Preceded byDamen Mk1
Built2000–2005
In commission2002–2005
Completed6
Active6
General characteristics
TypeCoastal patrol boat
Displacement110 tonnes
Length31 m (102 ft)
Draught1.8 m (5.9 ft)
PropulsionCODAD: 1 MTU 8V2000M60 loiter diesel, 1 waterjet, 400 kilowatts (540 bhp); 2 MTU 12V396TE84 main diesels, 2 shafts, 1,500 kilowatts (2,000 bhp);
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range1,500 nmi (2,800 km; 1,700 mi)
Complement13

Royal Thai Navy

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Australian company ASC and Thai company Silkline International formed a joint venture to build three Keka-class patrol boats for the Royal Thai Navy at Silkline's yard at Pak Nam Pran, Prachaub Krirkhan, Thailand.[1]

Series T.81

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The Keka-class vessels for the Royal Thai Navy are designated as the T.81 Series and have the following characteristics:[2]

  • Displacement: normal load 95 tonnes; full load 110 tonnes
  • Armament: 40/60 Bofors; Oerlikon GAM-C01 20 mm, 2 x 0.50" machine gun
  • Main Engines: 2 x MTU 16V2000 TE90
  • Radar: Anritsu

Hong Kong Marine Police

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The Hong Kong Marine Police had a programme to replace 35 patrol boats that had previously been delivered between 1980 and 1992. The first to be replaced were the Damen Mk I class for which the ASC designed Keka class was chosen. They were built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards in Hong Kong and in their yard in mainland China between 2000 and 2005. They were ordered in two batches of two and four boats.[3]

Vessels

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Ship Delivery Builder Owner Comments
Thailand
T.81 4 August 1999 ASC / Silkline JV Royal Thai Navy
T.82 9 December 1999 ASC / Silkline JV Royal Thai Navy
T.83 27 October 2000 ASC / Silkline JV Royal Thai Navy
Hong Kong
PL60 October 2002 Cheoy Lee Shipyard Hong Kong Marine Police Per HKMP press release[4]
PL61 October 2002 Cheoy Lee Shipyard Hong Kong Marine Police
PL62 5 May 2004 Cheoy Lee Shipyard Hong Kong Marine Police Per HKMP press release[5]
PL63 5 May 2004 Cheoy Lee Shipyard Hong Kong Marine Police
PL64 2005 Cheoy Lee Shipyard Hong Kong Marine Police Delivery date assumed from reference.[6]
PL65 2005 Cheoy Lee Shipyard Hong Kong Marine Police

References

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  1. ^ "Australian ship builder to build landing craft for Royal Thai Navy". Pattaya Mail. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  2. ^ "Royal Thai Navy Ship Specification; Thai Navy's warships". Thai Armed Force. Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  3. ^ "Hong Kong (Hong Kong), The market – Australasia and East Asia". Janes. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  4. ^ "New launches boost operational efficiency of marine police". Hong Kong Police. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  5. ^ "New launches boost operational efficiency of marine police". Hong Kong Police. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  6. ^ "Hong Kong (Hong Kong), The market – Australasia and East Asia". Janes. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
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