HMPNGS Ted Diro

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HMPNGS Ted Diro (P401) is Papua New Guinea’s first Guardian-class patrol boat. Built by Austal in Henderson, Western Australia, the ship is named after Ted Diro, a former PNG defence leader. The keel was laid on 31 July 2017, it was launched on 29 May 2018, delivered to Papua New Guinea on 30 November 2018, and commissioned on 1 February 2019.

Specifications:
- Length: 39.5 meters; beam: 8 meters; draft: 2.5 feet (0.76 meters)
- Propulsion: 2 × Caterpillar 3516C diesels, 2 shafts
- Speed: 20 knots; Range: 3,000 nautical miles at 12 knots
- Armament: delivered without weapons but designed to mount heavy machine guns or up to 30 mm autocannon on the foredeck

Guardian-class context:
Australia provides these vessels to Pacific nations to help them patrol their extended exclusive economic zones. Ted Diro is the first Guardian-class vessel to be completed, part of a program to replace the older Pacific Forum-class boats PNG received in the late 1980s. The project was announced in 2015 and built by Austal for about A$335 million.

Operational history:
Ted Diro began sea trials on 9 August 2018 and was commissioned on 1 February 2019 after delivery in late 2018. In August 2019, two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships visited Port Moresby and hosted Ted Diro’s crew. On 17 October 2019, the ship’s engines broke down and it was towed to Cairns for repairs. In September 2025, Ted Diro participated in a mobile Fleet Review for Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Day at Port Moresby, led by INS Kadmatt, with several other ships.

Identifiers:
- IMO: 4734104
- MMSI: 553111885
- Callsign: P2DQ