[1] Tukoro is one of twenty-two small patrol vessels Australia designed and built for smaller fellow members of the Pacific Forum, after the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea established that all maritime nations were entitled to exercise control over a 200-kilometre (120 mi) exclusive economic zone.

[2][3] Tukoro, like her sister ships, displaces approximately 160 tonnes, and can accommodate a crew of eighteen for missions lasting ten days or less.

In February and March 2017 Tukoro engaged in a joint fishery protection operation with her sister ship from the Solomon Islands, RSIPV Lata.

[6] In September 2017 Tukoro helped provide disaster relief to evacuees after the Ambae volcano eruption.

[7] Australia is scheduled to replace Tukoro was a larger and more capable Guardian-class patrol boat in 2021.