RSIPV Gizo (05)
RSIPV "Gizo" (05) is the fifth to be completed. Australian officials officially handed her over to representatives of the Solomon Islands on November 8, 2019, in Henderson, Western Australia. She is the first of two Guardian-class vessels Australia will provide to the Solomon Islands, and she will replace . Design. Australia provided 22 Pacific Forum patrol vessels to its smaller neighbours in the Pacific Forum after the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provided maritime nations with exclusive economic zone. Those vessels were delivered in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and were designed  for a service life of approximately 30 years. Australia designed the Guardian class as a slightly larger and more capable replacement. Like the Pacific Forum vessels the Guardian-class vessels are built using commercial off the shelf components, to make it easier for the vessels to be maintained in small, isolated shipyards. Role. According to Mostyn Mangau Solomon Islands Deputy Commissioner of Police: "This new boat is purposely to conduct maritime surveillance and enforcement operations like fighting illegal fishing, search and rescue for distress boats, VIP escorts and other border operations." Operational career. "Gizo" was officially commissioned on December 19 , 2019. VIPs attending the commissioning included Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, Minister of Police, National Security and Correctional Services Anthony Veke and Australian High Commissioner Sally Anne Vincent. Acting Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau called "Gizo" "the pride of the fleet". "Gizo" was joined by on her maiden voyage. The crews of the two vessels conducted joint training exercises on the voyage.