Patrol boat not written off yet

Defence hasn't written off HMAS Bundaberg just yet.

Although badly damaged in a fire on August 11, Defence says it's premature to speculate on the future of the vessel.

HMAS Bundaberg, one of the navy's 14 Armidale-class patrol boats, was undergoing routine maintenance at the Aluminium Boats Australia commercial facility in Brisbane when the fire started.

Firefighters took three hours to bring the blaze under control. Two civilian contractors were treated for smoke inhalation but no navy crew were injured.

Defence said an environmental assessment of the site had now been completed, allowing officials access to conduct a structural safety assessment.

Once that's done, a full assessment of the extent of damage can then be undertaken.

"It is premature at this stage to speculate on the cause of the fire or the future employment of the vessel," Defence said in a statement.