Aust to donate landing craft to Tonga

Australia is a buying a $5 million landing craft which it will donate to Tonga.

The 30-metre craft will be delivered in mid-2015 under a long-running defence co-operation program.

It will boost the Tongan military's capacity to reach remote communities for nation-building construction activities as well as in response to natural disasters such as cyclones.

The contract for construction of the vessel has been awarded to Newcastle shipbuilder Forgacs.

Forgacs is one of the shipbuilders facing the so-called "valley of death" - the period between the end of current defence shipbuilding projects and the start of new projects.

Through the defence co-operation program with Tonga, Australia will deliver a range of services in support of the vessel's operation, including engineering, technical and logistic support.