Keka-class patrol boat

Patrol Launch 63 entering the Cheung Chau Typhoon Shelter in 2008
Class overview
Name	Keka-class patrol boat
Builders	Cheoy Lee Shipyard, Ltd, Hong Kong
Operators	Hong Kong Police
Preceded by	Damen Mk1
Built	2000–2005
In commission	2002–2005
Completed	6
Active	6
General characteristics
Type	Coastal patrol boat
Displacement	110 tonnes
Length	31 m (102 ft)
Draught	1.8 m (5.9 ft)
Propulsion	CODAD: 1 MTU 8V2000M60 loiter diesel, 1 waterjet, 400 kilowatts (540 bhp); 2 MTU 12V396TE84 main diesels, 2 shafts, 1,500 kilowatts (2,000 bhp);
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	1,500 nmi (2,800 km; 1,700 mi)
Complement	13

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).

Royal Thai Navy

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

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

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

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

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.

External links

• "Hong Kong Police, Vehicles and Vessels". Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
• "Hong Kong (Hong Kong), The market – Australasia and East Asia". Janes. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
• "Keka class launch in first night-time rescue". Offbeat, The Newspaper of the Hong Kong Police Force. Retrieved 2011-04-02.