Marine Unit (Australian Border Force)

Last updated
ABF Marine Unit
Australian Border Force Flag.svg
ABF flag
Active2015 (2015) – present
CountryAustralia
Agency Australian Border Force
Type Coast guard
Role
Part of Maritime Border Command
Headquarters Canberra, Australia
AbbreviationABF MU
Commanders
Current
commander
Commander Claire Rees (Acting) [1]
Equipment
Boats12 major ships
13 patrol boats
Website
https://www.abf.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/border-protection/maritime

The Marine Unit, formerly the Australian Customs Service National Marine Unit, is a division of the Australian Border Force (ABF) which acts as a coast guard for guarding Australia's coast. The Marine Unit focuses on surveillance and response activities within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, and the operation and training of ships and crews for these functions.

Contents

Operations

ABFC Cape St. George patrolling an offshore oil platform Semi submersible drilling rig, Stena Clyde, and Australian Customs, Cape St George, on Darwin Harbour.jpg
ABFC Cape St. George patrolling an offshore oil platform

The CMU and the Border Protection Division (formerly known as Coastwatch) make up the Customs contribution to Maritime Border Command, a joint command with the Australian Defence Force and incorporating assets from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and state-level agencies. Maritime Border Command is responsible for protecting Australia's maritime areas, offshore assets, and external territories from threats, including the exploitation of natural resources, people smuggling, importation or exportation of drugs and other illegal items, piracy, and terrorism.

Facilities

The ABF maintains a permanent base of operations for the Marine Unit at the Port Darwin East Arm Wharf. [2]

Ships

Ships operated by the CMU have been given the prefix Australian Border Force Cutter (ABFC) since the creation of the ABF. Ships were previously referred to as Australian Customs Vessels (ACVs).

Current ships

The largest ship in the ABF fleet is the 110.9-metre (364 ft) offshore patrol vessel ABFC Ocean Shield, which entered service in June 2012 and is a sister ship to ADV Ocean Protector. [3] ABFC Thaiyak is a unique 40-metre (130 ft) vessel delivered in June 2014, [4] intended to replace the ACV Ashmore Guardian for use around the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. In addition, charter arrangements give the ABF access to an additional twenty vessels of various sizes and types; these are called on when required to transport apprehended foreign fishermen and illegal entrants, or tow captured vessels. The ABF announced life extension work for two remaining Bay-class patrol boats and mid-life cycle works for the Cape-class patrol boats. [5]

Current fleet [6]
ImageClassNameTypeEntered serviceDetails
ABFC Ocean Shield, Ocean Shield ABFC Ocean Shield at the Australian Marine Complex, Henderson, September 2020 01.jpg
ABFC Ocean Shield, Ocean Shield
N/A Ocean Shield Sealift, offshore patrol2012Previously operated by the Royal Australian Navy.
N/A Thaiyak Long term Ashmore capability (LTAC)2014Primarily stationed at the Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
ABFC Cape St. George, Cape St. George Cape St George, on Darwin Harbour.jpg
ABFC Cape St. George, Cape St. George
Cape-class patrol boat Cape St. George Offshore patrol2013
Cape-class patrol boat Cape Byron Offshore patrol2014
Cape-class patrol boat Cape Nelson Offshore patrol2014
ABFC Cape Sorell, Cape Sorell HMPNGS Ted Diro (P401), Cape Sorell, Henderson, 2018 (01).jpg
ABFC Cape Sorell, Cape Sorell
Cape-class patrol boat Cape Sorell Offshore patrol2014
Cape-class patrol boat Cape Jervis Offshore patrol2015
Cape-class patrol boat Cape Leveque Offshore patrol2015
Cape-class patrol boat Cape Wessel Offshore patrol2015
ABFC Cape York, Cape York Cape York patrol boat at Austal shipyards in Henderson, Western Australia, August 2021 01.jpg
ABFC Cape York, Cape York
Cape-class patrol boat Cape York Offshore patrol2015
Then ACV Roebuck Bay (10) alongside ACV Dame Roma Mitchell (70) Darwin's Stokes Hill Wharf January 2010.jpg
Then ACV Roebuck Bay (10) alongside ACV Dame Roma Mitchell (70)
Bay-class patrol boat Roebuck BayOffshore patrol2000Undergoing life extension work in 2024. [5] Replacement Evolved Cape-class patrol boat ordered. [7]
Then ACV Storm Bay ACV Storm Bay.jpg
Then ACV Storm Bay
Bay-class patrol boat Storm BayOffshore patrol2000Undergoing life extension work in 2024. [5] Replacement Evolved Cape-class patrol boat ordered. [7]

Small boats

In 2017, the ABF signed contracts to acquire 13 new harbour and coastal patrol boats. [8] These vessels are stationed around the country and are used for a variety of operations including coastal patrol, surveillance and drug interdiction. [9]

Future ships

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is acquiring ten Evolved Cape-class patrol boats to act as a stopgap replacement for the Armidale-class patrol boat as they await completion of the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels. [10] It remains unclear if these Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels will be transferred to the ABF once all Arafura-class vessels have been commissioned into RAN service.

Former Bay class Australian Customs Vessel Botany Bay (ACV30) returns to Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, Australia Australian Customs Vessel ACV30 Botany Bay returns to Stokes Hill Wharf (2).jpg
Former Bay class Australian Customs Vessel Botany Bay (ACV30) returns to Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin, Australia

The 2023 Defence Strategic Review was reportedly considering removing the Arafura-class from RAN service and transferring them to the ABF Marine Unit; this is being considered as the Arafura-class lacks the capabilities required in high-end warfighting. [11] [12] Under that plan, the RAN would instead acquire a fleet of general purpose frigates.

Former ships

References

  1. "ABF Organisational Chart" (PDF). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. VANOVAC, NEDA. "'No port security fear': Border Force head". NT News. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. "Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Ocean Shield - Naval Technology" . Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  4. "Strategic Marine Delivers MV Thaiyak".
  5. 1 2 3 "Border Force progressing fleet upgrades - Australian Defence Magazine". www.australiandefence.com.au. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  6. "Patrol vessels". Australian Border Force. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Austal Australia awarded contract for two additional Evolved Cape-class Patrol Boats for Australian Border Force". Austal Corporate. 2024-12-22.
  8. "New fleet of ABF Port and Coastal Vessels on the way" . Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. "ABF launch new patrol boat in Melbourne to crackdown on drug smugglers". Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  10. "Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats, Australia". Naval Technology. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  11. Felton, Benjamin (20 December 2022). "What does Australia's Strategic Review hold for the RAN?". Naval News. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  12. Greene, Andrew (9 October 2022). "'97 years late': Expensive problems on major defence projects concern federal government". ABC News. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  13. "First of Two Bay Class Patrol Boats Gifted to Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency". 26 March 2015.
  14. "Bay Class Gifting – Flag Transfer Ceremony - Australian Border Force Newsroom".