Since the AUKUS initiative was launched in September 2021, its Australian supporters and critics have been united on one point: that successive governments have failed to make a detailed strategic case for why Australia needs to acquire eight nuclear-powered submarines for its navy. No prime...
Volunteer Marine Rescue Western Australia (VMRWA) recently took delivery of a new rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for operation by its Marine Rescue Dampier station in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The aptly named Dampier Legend was designed by local naval architecture firm Southerly Designs and built in fulfillment of a contract awarded by the Western Australian […]
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The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has taken delivery of an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) as part of a broader project that seeks to expand the service’s autonomous systems capability. PBAT Sentinel is the former Armidale-class patrol boat ex-HMAS Maitland, which was retired from RAN service in 2022...
AUKUS is the great polariser of Australia’s national security community. Supporters are accused of risking too much for one capability; critics are accused of being unhelpful or lacking belief in Australia. All this misses the point. We have about 1,000 days before a possible conflict breaks out...
The Port of Brisbane (PBPL) in Australia recently welcomed a new harbour tender into service. The vessel has been named Giles S in honour of the late Giles Stimson, who had once worked as Manager of Hydrographic Surveys at PBPL. The custom workboat was built by BtB Marine to a design by Global...
The waters of the Indian Ocean lap on the shores of Western Australia all the way across to Africa. But how far Australia’s defence and foreign policy interests extend into this vast watery expanse is a live debate. The “Indo-Pacific”, at least as Australia conceives this area, drives a...
Western Australia-based mining company Mineral Resources (MinRes) has taken delivery of two transhippment barges for transporting iron ore from shore to larger cargo ships off the coast. The vessels, which have been named MinRes Coolibah and MinRes Airlie, were built by COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry of China with design work done by MinRes in collaboration […]
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The South Australian State Emergency Service (SASES) recently placed a new locally built search and rescue (SAR) boat into service. Built by Lonsdale-based manufacturer Nautic Star, the purpose-designed and built vessel has been named Yaragada. The new vessel replaces another that was deemed to...
In the “differ where we must” dimension of dealing with China, Australia is wielding a new nomenclature stick (or schtick?). Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles talks about the “West Philippine Sea”, not just the “South China Sea”. Kicking away some of the dashes in China’s...
As part of the original crew of HMAS Anzac, I was sad to see the ship decommissioned last month after almost 30 years’ service. The retirement of this warship inevitably sparked discussions about a potential “capability gap” in the Royal Australian Navy’s surface combatant fleet, especially in...