Australian Patrol Boat Group

The Australian Patrol Boat Group is a Force Element Group (FEG) of the Royal Australian Navy. It manages the Navy's patrol boats.

Australian Patrol Boat Group
CountryAustralia
BranchRoyal Australian Navy
TypeForce Element Group
HeadquartersHMAS Coonawarra

The Patrol Boat Group operates thirteen (originally fourteen, HMAS Bundaberg was decommissioned in 2014 due to fire damage) Armidale class patrol boats. The Group's headquarters is located at HMAS Coonawarra in the city of Darwin, additional support is provided by the class logistics office at HMAS Cairns.

History

There have been three classes of patrol boat to serve in the Royal Australian Navy; the Attack class from 1967 to 1994, the Fremantle class from 1980 to 2007, and the Armidale class, which entered service in 2005.

1900s

During the 1960s to mid-1980s, the local Australia Patrol Boat was divided into 3 main squadrons which were ported in the regions of Sydney (NSW), Cairns (QLD) and Darwin (NT). In the mid-1980s, the separation of squadrons was discontinued; HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin was established as the centralised headquarters.[1]

2000s

In 2002, increased illegal activity in Australia's northern maritime zones instigated the relocation of the patrol headquarters and vessels.[2] This change resulted in the increase of capacity of the primary ports in Coonawarra, Darwin and Cairns, Queensland to incorporate the vessels from the Sydney home port, which was disestablished.[2]

2010s

In July 2010, the Australian Border Force submitted a request for the construction of a new class of patrol vessels to supplement, and eventually replace, the patrol capacities of the Bay Class Patrol Group (which were due to end service in early 2010). From the 2010-2011 budget, Australian government commissioned 8 larger, upgraded vessels, named the Cape Class. The $350m contract, stipulating the vessels’ design, construction, and ongoing maintenance, was awarded to Austal on 12 August 2011.[3] The vessels entered service over March 2013 to September 2015.

On 18 December 2014, the RAN was forced to decommission the Patrol Boat group's HMAS Bundaberg of the Armidale Fleet.[4] The vessel had sustained irreparable damage during a refit in August 2014 by a fire aboard the ship.[5] To supplement the Armidale Class, Austal was commissioned for two additional Cape Class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which were completed in 2017.[6]

Insignia

Commencing in 1968, the Australian Naval Board changed the visual squadron designation of all RAN vessels to the US classification style.[1] The new patrol squadron classifications included:

·      AUSPABRON 1 (First Australian Patrol Boat Squadron)

·      AUSPABRON 2 (Second Australian Patrol Boat Squadron)

·      AUSPABRON 3 (Third Australian Patrol Boat Squadron)

·      PNGPABRON (Papua/New Guinea Patrol Boat Squadron)

Australian Patrol boats also adopted the traditional number system of the British Royal Navy. Single numbers were painted on the funnel of individual vessels as intra squadron identification. Each squadron also developed regional insignia, relating to its operational area.[1]

The Sydney squadron, AUSPABRON 1, displayed the motif of a red kangaroo superimposed upon the harbour bridge.

The Cairns squadron, AUSPABRON 2, displayed the symbol of a blue marlin and the number 2 ringed in gold. The signification of the marlin was adopted from the HMAS Cairns’ official badge.

The Darwin squadron, AUSPABRON 3, displayed the number 3 and an insignia of a water buffalo.

Patrol boats stationed in other Australian areas including Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia also developed regional inspired insignia. These Included a Black Swan, Tasmanian devil, and magpie, respectively. The Papua New Guinea region squadron's attack class patrol boat insignia was unofficially displayed as a shark circling a palm tree.[1]

Following the mid-1980s dissolution of separate regional squadrons, the squadron numerical identification ceased. Current nomenclature is displayed on the vessel's pennant, as a 2 to 3-digit number. Each patrol vessel is also ascribed a name according to their region of operation.[7]

Relevant Legislation Evolution

The Maritime Power Bill 2012 was introduced by the Gillard Government on the 30th of May 2012.[8] The 2012 Attorney-General Department stated the purpose for the Bill was to “harmonise and simplify” existing legislation by creating a clear framework for the extent and abilities of Australian maritime enforcement powers.[9] This framework outlines the authorisation of capabilities held by current vessels including Australian Patrol Boat Groups.  

The Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012 was introduced concurrently to the Maritime Power Bill 2012.[10] The most significant action of the bill was repealing all maritime enforcement powers contained within the Migration Act 1958, as these powers were now enshrined within the new Maritime Power Bill. The Bill repealed subsection 245F (8), which defined the ability of Australian vessels, including Patrol boat groups, to turn back unauthorised boats in Australian waters.[10] However, this amendment was stated by the Attorney-General Department to not reduce or increase existing Maritime powers.[9] These Bills were passed and enforced as of the 13th of March 2013.[10]

The Patrol Boat Group Today

The Australian Defence Force sets the Patrol Boat Group's mandate as to “protect the Australian border and offshore interests” ("Patrol Boat, General", n.d.).[7] In concurrence with this federal policy, Australian patrol boats are tasked with constabulary and environmental protective duties. In peacetime, Patrol boats commit to civil surveillance and enforce Australian law on the border, policing illegal activity including unauthorised entry, illegal immigration, breaches of customs and drug smuggling.[11] Patrol vessels also enhance law enforcement aiding preservation efforts to retain the condition of Australian marine life, aquatic environment, and resources.

Active vessels are authorised with multiple law enforcement responsibilities. The Royal Australian Navy authorises the currently active Armidale vessels with “tracking, intercepting, stopping and boarding other vessels, and sometimes arresting their crews and seizing cargo.”[7] ("Patrol Boat, General", n.d.).

These activities are supported and allied with the operations of Australian Federal Police, Australian Fisheries and Australian Border Force. Patrol vessels have jurisdiction in coastal Australian maritime zones, surrounding Australian island territories and Australia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The majority of patrol operations occur in northern maritime zones.[2]

The Armidale Class Fleet was commissioned into the RAN and became operational on the 24th of June 2005.[12] and remains in active service during 2020: it consists of 13 operational vessels.[13] In addition to the Armidale Class patrol boats, two additional Cape Class vessels (ADV Cape Fourcroy and ADV Cape Inscription) are also in active service.[7] All 15 vessels act as naval support for civilian authorities to enforce Australian regulation of maritime law and environment. The Patrol group provides 21 trained available crews to allow rotation.[14]

Active Patrol Boat Details[7]
Name Pennant Commissioned Commanding Officer
HMAS Albany P86 15 July 2006 Lieutenant Commander Adam Simeoni
HMAS Ararat II P89 10 November 2006 Lieutenant Commander David Meartinussen
HMAS Armidale II P83 24 June 2005 Lieutenant Commander Bernard Chandler
HMAS Bathurst II P85 10 February 2006 Lieutenant Commander Ashleigh Payne
HMAS Broome II P90 10 February 2007 Lieutenant Commander Adam Stafford
ADV Cape Fourcroy 310 Lieutenant Commander Craig Blakey
ADV Cape Inscription 320 Lieutenant Commander Richard Currie
HMAS Childers P93 7 July 2007 Lieutenant Commander Alicia Rundre
HMAS Gleneig II P96 22 February 2008 Lieutenant Commander Jared Webb
HMAS Larrakia II P84 10 February 2006 Lieutenant Commander David Lindquist
HMAS Launceston III P94 22 September 2007 Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Graney
HMAS Maitland II P88 29 September 2006 Lieutenant Commander Julia Griffin
HMAS Maryborough II P95 8 December 2007 Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hams
HMAS Pirie II P87 29 July 2006 Lieutenant Commander Thomas Williams
HMAS Wollongong III P92 23 June 2007 Lieutenant Commander Samuel Langmald

Role in Operation Sovereign Borders

In cooperation with Australian Border Force, Australian Patrol boats are the primary contribution to the National policy of “Operation Sovereign Borders” which was implemented by the Abbott government in 2013.[7] Under the Policy, between its enactment and September 2018, Patrol boats intercepted and apprehended 33 vessels in Australian maritime zones. 827 individuals aboard were refouled and returned to their original country.[15]

High Court Challenge to Detainment by Patrol Boat

On the 29th of June 2014, an Indian flagged vessel was intercepted and detained by an Australian Royal Navy and Customs and Border Protection Service affiliated patrol boat as an action of Border Protection.[16] The vessel was initially discovered in the Indian Ocean approximately 300 kilometres away from the Australian territory, Christmas Island, within Australia's maritime territorial contiguous zone.[17]  

The foreign vessel was documented as containing 157 people, who identified as Tamil and were seeking asylum seeker status in Australia.[18]  On the 1st of July, Australian Patrol vessels deemed the foreign vessel unseaworthy due leakage issues, and the occupants were transferred to, and detained aboard, a RAN vessel. Subsequently, the occupants were the transported to Indian waters where the Australian government engaged in diplomatic negotiations with the Indian government to return the detained individuals. Overall, the detainment on high seas lasted between 3 and 4 weeks.[18]

The legality of the detainment and transportation of the asylum seeker claimants aboard the Australian patrol vessel was challenged in a case that was brought to the High Court in October 2014. The verdict was finalised in January 2015, with 4 to 3 judges ruling in favour of the defendant, the Australian Commonwealth.[19]

In 2014, the High Court’s ruling in the case CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection[19] affirmed the authority of Australian Patrol vessels to detain illegal immigrants and turnback or assist the return of illegal boats.

This was expressed as: “Section 72(4) of Maritime Powers Act 2013 (Cth) authorised maritime officer to detain person for purpose of taking person to place outside Australia[19]” (“CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection”, 2015). This ruling set a precedent for the future treatment of individuals identified as non visa holding illegal immigrants by Australian patrol vessels.

Ongoing/Future Vessels And Contracts

The federal defence initiative, the National Shipbuilding Plan aims to build 12 patrol vessels to supplement, and eventually succeed the current Armidale Class Fleet.[20] In May 2017, Luerssen Australia Pty Ltd was selected as the main contractor and designer of the SEA1180 Offshore Patrol Vessel program. The company's US$3.6B[21] contract stipulated the design and construction of 12 Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Royal Australian Navy. As of October 2018, the projected competition date is 2029–2030.[22] Construction of the first two patrol boat began on the 15th of November 2018. Construction of the subsequent 10 OPVs bean on 27 of March 2020, in the Western Australian Facility, the Henderson Maritime Precinct.[23]

The Department of Defence estimated the building of the 12 OPVs would create over 1200 Australian construction jobs: 400 direct and 600 indirect supply chain jobs.[24]

At this time, the class of the contracted vessels was named Arafura class offshore patrol vessels. The completed vessels of the Arafura class are anticipated to enter service in 2022.[25] The role of these active vessels will be to “undertake patrol and response duties, security operations and border protection activities[26] ”. The Arafura-class was designed to enhance the capabilities of the current Australian patrol boat group to fulfil these constabulary, preventative and protection duties. Minister for Defence Reynolds expressed this mission statement as “The Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels are larger than the Armidale-class patrol boats currently in service with the Royal Australian Navy, and will offer greater endurance and capability for patrolling Australia’s maritime borders.[27]”

In May 2020, 6 additional Cape Class vessels were ordered by the RAN to serve, in interim, for the upcoming Arafura Class.[28] The ordered vessels are constructed similarly to the current Cape class model, which is a “58 metre aluminium monohull patrol boat design”.[29] Reported design enhancements include increased crew accommodation capacity from 22 people to 32 people and enable Wi-Fi connectivity aboard the vessel.[29] The projected completion of the first Cape class vessel (Hull 811) is September 2021, and the completion of all vessels is anticipated in 2023.

National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise

The National naval shipbuilding enterprise is an investment in maritime defence vessels, maintenance, and ship building locations by the Australian government. The current the prospected investment is approximately $168 to $183 billion.[30] The program, including the 2017 Naval Shipbuilding Plan and the 2020 Force Structure Plan[31] outlines a framework to technologically equip, fiscally sustain and develop capabilities for current and future Australian Naval Operations.[30]

Plan Galileo

Plan Galileo was launched in April 2020. The plan aims to sustain and improve upon the available resources of Regional Maintenance Centres (RMCs).[32] The sites of these centres include Perth, Darwin, Cairns and Sydney:[32] centres which provide logistical support and physical harbour space for existing RAN vessels including the currently operating Armidale Class patrol boat groups.[1]  

Organisation
HMAS Larrakia in 2015

With the introduction of the Armidale class, the Australian Patrol Boat Group was reorganised into four divisions, named after Attack class ships:

See also

References
  1. Perryman, J (n.d.). "The Origin of RAN Squadron and National Insignia". www.navy.gov.au. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. "Chapter 3: Navy's Patrol Boat Capability". 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  3. "Cape Class Patrol Boats". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  4. Navy, Royal Australian. "HMAS Bundaberg decommissioned". Navy Daily. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. "Defence update on HMAS Bundaberg fire". Department of Defence. 2014.
  6. "Austal Rolls Out First Cape Class Patrol Boat For Royal Australian Navy". Austal: Corporate. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  7. "Patrol Boat, General (PB)". www.navy.gov.au. n.d. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  8. corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 27 November 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "Maritime Powers Bill 2012, Maritime Powers (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2012". parliament of australia. 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  10. corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 27 November 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Horn M, Jiang H, Kilby P (2007). "Scheduling patrol boats and crews for the Royal Australian Navy". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2 November 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. "Department of Defence - Annual Report 2005-06 : Outcome Two: Navy Capability". Defence.gov.au. 2006.
  13. "HMAS Armidale (II)". www.navy.gov.au. n.d. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  14. Kerr, J (2007). "Plain sailing: Australia's Armidales prove fit for task". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  15. "Turning back boats". Kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au. 2019.
  16. "Timeline: 157 Tamil asylum seekers intercepted at sea". www.abc.net.au. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  17. corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 27 November 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. "High Court finds high seas detention of 157 asylum seekers did not breach Australian domestic law". Human Rights Law Centre. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  19. "CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection". eresources.hcourt.gov.au. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  20. "SEA 1180 Arafura class Offshore Patrol Vessels". Defenceconnect.com.au. 2017.
  21. "German company to build 12 offshore patrol vessels for Australian navy". The Guardian. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  22. "Australian Industry Capability : Industry : Department of Defence". www.defence.gov.au. 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  23. "Capability". Department of Defence. 2020.
  24. "Joint media release - Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and Minister for Defence Industry". Department of defence. 2017.
  25. "Arafura Class OPV". www.navy.gov.au. n.d. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  26. "Defence's Procurement of Offshore Patrol Vessels — SEA 1180 Phase 1". ANAO. 2020.
  27. "Occasional Paper 83: Current Australian Ship Naval Building Projects". Naval Historical Society of Australia. 2020.
  28. Milne, Sandy (24 July 2020). "Program milestone for Navy's new patrol boats". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  29. "Australia starts construction of new Cape-class patrol vessel". Defence Brief. 2020.
  30. "National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise". Department of Defence. n.d.
  31. "2020 Defence Strategic Update & 2020 Force Structure Plan". Department of Defence. 2020.
  32. "Plan Galileo". Department of Defence. n.d.
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