The Paluma class vessels have a full load displacement of 320 tonnes. They are long overall and long between perpendiculars, have a beam of , and a draught of . Propulsion machinery consists of two General Motors Detroit Diesel 12V-92T engines, which supply to the two propeller shafts. Each vessel has a top speed of , a maximum sustainable speed of (which gives a maximum range of ), and an endurance of 14 days. Paluma was laid down by Eglo Engineering on 21 March 1988, launched on 6 February 1989 and commissioned into the RAN on 27 February 1989. The ship was named for Paluma, Queensland.