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The Department of Defense’s Pacific Patrol Boat Systems Program Office (PPB SPO) has relocated to Cairns from Canberra so it can better support the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP). Under the PMSP, Australia has committed $2.1 billion to deliver and support 21 Guardian-class patrol boats to 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor-Lesté between 2018 and 2023. PPB SPO oversees the…
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The Navy’s oldest vessels, HMA Ships Paluma and Mermaid, were fareweled from service during a ceremony at HMAS Cairns at the weekend. For more than 30 years, the survey motor launches collected hydrographic data necessary for creating products used by military, commercial and private vessels to safely navigate the waters around Australia. In addition to their critically important survey function,…
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April 6, 2021 – HMAS Melville has returned to her home port of Cairns after a six-week deployment completing survey work in poorly surveyed waters of the Bass Strait. The voyage to the Bass Strait was the first time in 14 years Melville has travelled so far south. Able Seaman Ryan Ball said the voyage was a rare opportunity to…
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August 28, 2020 – HMAS Leeuwin has spent two weeks conducting intensive training and evaluation in beautiful weather off Mission Beach, 140km south of Cairns, in preparation for operational taskings later this year. The training follows a major maintenance period in June, when the ship slipped at Tropical Reef Shipyard for over eight weeks. Maritime Geospatial Officer – Hydrographic Lieutenant Leigh…
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June 16, 2020 – HMAS Armidale has undocked in Cairns after undergoing a major servicing and restoration project, which invested more than $5 million into the local economy. Local Cairns businesses played an essential role in delivering this key project for the Royal Australian Navy. Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price said this is the first of several major maintenance projects coming up over…
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