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Title

QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

Defence: Staffing (Question No. 1601)

Database

Senate Hansard

Date

10-05-2012

Source

Senate

Parl No.

43

Electorate

 

Interjector

 

Page

3301

Party

LP

Presenter

 

Status

Final

Question No.

1601

Questioner

Johnston, Sen David

Responder

Evans, Sen Christopher

Speaker

 

Stage

 

Type

 

Context

QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

System Id

chamber/hansards/edb45988-55dc-4a02-8239-a916040eb623/0253


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Thursday, 10 May 2012
Page: 3301

Defence: Staffing

(Question No. 1601)


Senator Johnston asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 March 2012:

For the period 1 July to 31 December 2011:

(1) Which naval vessels were fully operational with a full crew complement.

(2) Which naval vessels were not fully operationally ready for immediate tasking.

(3) For each naval vessel that was non-operationally ready, what was the reason for its non operational status.

(4) What were the operational strengths on all naval vessels of the: (a) engineering officers and sailors; and (b) non engineering officers and sailors.


Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Defencehas provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Major Surface Combatants and Amphibious Ships:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Surface Force naval vessels is summarised in the table below.

HMA Ship

Operationally Available

Not Operationally Available

Comment

Frigates

 

 

 

Darwin

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Melbourne

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Newcastle

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Sydney

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Anzac

11 Jul - 31Dec

01 Jul - 10 Jul

Extended Readiness. Insufficient qualified marine technician (MT) sailors

Arunta

 

01 Jul - 31 Dec

Extended Readiness. Insufficient qualified MT sailors

Ballarat

01 Jul - 17 Jul

24 Jul - 31 Dec

18 Jul -23 Jul

Unscheduled defect rectification

Parramatta

01 Jul - 17 Jul

29 Jul - 04 Aug

15 Aug - 31 Dec

18 Jul - 28 Jul

05 Aug - 14 Aug

Unscheduled defect rectification

Perth

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Stuart

01 Jul - 4 Sep

5 Sep - 31 Dec

Extended Readiness. Insufficient qualified MT sailors

Toowoomba

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Warramunga

03 Jul - 31 Dec

01 Jul - 03 Jul

Unscheduled defect rectification

Afloat Support Ships

 

 

Success

01 Jul - 09 Sep

10 Sep - 31 Dec

Unscheduled defect rectification and maintenance

Sirius

01 Jul - 12 Aug

24 Aug - 27 Aug

31 Aug - 31 Dec

13 Aug - 23 Aug

28 Aug - 30 Aug

Unscheduled defect rectification

Amphibious Ships

 

 

Kanimbla

 

1 Jul - 25 Nov

Operational Pause

Decommissioned 25 Nov 11

Tobruk

01 Jul - 31 Jul05 Sep - 30 Oct

8 Nov - 31 Dec

01 Aug - 4 Sep 31 Oct - 7 Nov

Unscheduled Defect Rectification

Choules

14 Oct - 31 Dec

 

 

Balikpapan

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Betano

01 Jul - 16 Oct

20 Oct - 31 Dec

17 Oct - 19 Oct

Unscheduled Defect Rectification

Brunei

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Labuan

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Tarakan

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Wewak

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

(4) Excluding HMA Ships Anzac/Stuart and Arunta, which were de-crewed at different stages of the second half of 2011, the operational manning strengths in the Navy's crewed Surface Force vessels during the period were as follows:

(a) Ninety six per cent crewed with engineering officers and 92 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) Ninety six per cent crewed with non-engineering officers and 90 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Submarines:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Submarine Force vessels is summarised in the attached table.

HMA Ship

Operationally Available

Not Operationally Available

Comment

Collins

01 Jul - 9 Jul

24 Oct - 31 Dec

10 Jul - 23 Oct

In scheduled certification extension docking (CED)maintenance

Growth in CED Maintenance

Dechaineaux

01 Jul - 4 Aug

10 Aug - 31 Dec

05 - 09 Aug

Unscheduled maintenance

Farncomb

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Waller

01 Jul - 3 Jul

14Sep - 31 Dec

04 Jul - 13 Sep

In scheduled mid-cycle docking (commenced ahead of schedule)

Sheean

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

In scheduled full cycle docking throughout

Rankin

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

In scheduled full cycle docking throughout

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Submarine Force during the period were:

(a) One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 95 percent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) Ninety per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 97 percent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Force are summarised in the attached table:

HMA Ship

Operationally Available

Not Operationally Available

Comment

Mine Hunter Coastal

Diamantina

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Gascoyne

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Huon

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Yarra

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Hawkesbury

 

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

Government approved placing this vessel at extended readiness availability (de-crewed.) from December 2009.

Norman

 

01 Jul -31 Dec

 

Government approved placing this vessel at extended readiness availability (de-crewed.) from December 2009.

Mine Sweeping Auxiliary

Wallaroo

13 Jul -15 Aug

01 Jul - 12 Jul

16 Aug - 31 Dec

This vessel was placed on short-term reactive notice for sea from October 2010 for nuclear powered warship (NPW) support duties (de-crewed.)

The in 'operating cycle dates' relate to activation for NPW duties

Bandicoot

 

01 Jul - 31 Dec

This vessel was placed on short-term reactive notice for sea from October 2010 for NPW)support duties (de-crewed.)

Australian Clearance Diving Teams

One

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Four

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Mine Hunting Force vessels (with the exception of Hawkesbury and Norman in Extended Readiness Availability) during the period were:

(a) Manning for all Mine Counter Measures (MCM) platforms was commensurate with tasking requirements. Mine Hunters were 98.6 per cent crewed with engineering officers (roles are performed by Chief Petty Officer marine technicians borne as senior technical officers) and 87.5 per cent crewed with engineering sailors. Engineering Department consists of both mechanical and electrical technicians; the majority of engineering manning shortfalls came from the Electrical Technician Branch. Mine Sweeper Auxiliary Wallaroo was commensurate with tasking requirements as of July 2011 at 7 days notice for sea, 100 per cent crewed with engineering officers roles (performed by Petty Officer marine technicians borne as senior technical officers) and 100 per cent crewed with engineering sailors.

(b) Due to an extant deficiency in qualified mine warfare and clearance diving officers, the Mine Hunters were manned with 83 per cent of the required skill set. Supplementation of the qualification requirements was achieved through the use of mine warfare officers and Australian Naval reserves. Non-engineering departments were manned with 93 per cent skill set required to achieve necessary tasks.

Hydrographic Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 01 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Hydrographic Forces is summarised in the attached table:

HMA Ship Operationally Available Not Operationally Available Comment

HMA Ship

Operationally Available

Not Operationally Available

Comment

 

Leeuwin

 

19 Jul - 14 Aug

19 Aug - 31 Aug

05 Sep - 14 Sep

18 Sep - 31 Dec

01 Jul - 18 Jul

15 Aug - 18 Aug

01 Sep - 04 Sep

15 Sep - 17 Sep

11 Nov - 28 Nov

Unscheduled defect rectification

Melville

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Paluma

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Benalla

01 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Shepparton

01 Jul - 18 Aug

23 Aug - 11 Sep

01 Oct - 16 Oct

09 Nov - 12 Dec

19 Aug - 22 Aug

12 Sep - 30 Sep

17 Oct - 08 Nov

13 Dec - 31 Dec

Unscheduled defect rectification

Temporary personnel deficiencies due to undiagnosed virus with ship remaining alongside.

Mermaid

08 Jul - 31 Dec

01 Jul - 07 Jul

Unscheduled defect rectification

Note: Shepparton lost 22 days due to an undiagnosed viral -like illness that infected many of the crew and key command members. Appropriate health measures were taken including not exposing operational reliefs to the illness and therefore the ship was kept alongside until key personnel were fit for sea. The ship remained fully crewed, but remained alongside to ensure full and expeditious recovery of crew from illness.

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's hydrographic vessels during the period were:

(a) Hydrographic units were 100 per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with Engineer Sailors

(b) Hydrographic units were 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Patrol Boat Force:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Patrol Boat Force vessels is summarised in the attached table.

HMA Ship Operationally Available Not Operationally Available Comment

HMA Ship

Operationally Available

Not Operationally Available

Comment

 

Armidale

01 Jul - 14 Aug 

20Aug - 21Aug

19 Sep - 25 Sep 

03 Oct - 09 Oct

12 Oct - 07 Nov

11 Nov - 31 Dec

15 Aug - 19 Aug

22 Aug - 18 Sep

26 Sep - 02 Oct

10 Oct - 11 Oct

08 Nov - 10 Nov

Unscheduled defect rectification

Larrakia

01 Jul - 04 Dec

07 Dec - 31 Dec

05 Dec - 06 Dec

 

Unscheduled defect rectification

Bathurst

01 Jul - 28 Nov

05 Dec - 11 Dec

19 Dec - 31 Dec

29 Nov - 04 Dec 

12 Dec - 18 Dec 

 

 

Unscheduled defect rectification

Albany

01 Jul - 04 Sep

06 Sep - 31 Dec

05 Sep - 05 Sep 

Unscheduled defect rectification

Pirie

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Maitland

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

Ararat

16 Oct - 31 Dec

01 Jul - 27 Sep 

28 Sep - 15 Oct 

Planned operational release docking to rectify latent defects from build and achieve delivery baseline

Unscheduled defect rectification

Broome

01 Jul - 17 Jul

06 Oct - 31 Dec

 

18 Jul - 03 Oct

03 Oct - 05 Oct 

Planned operational release docking to rectify latent defects from build and achieve delivery baseline

Unscheduled defect rectification

Bundaberg

01 Jul - 06 Aug

09 Aug - 04 Sep 

03 Oct - 31 Dec

07 Aug - 08 Aug 

05 Sep - 26 Sep 

28 Sep - 02 Oct

Unscheduled defect rectification

Planned operational release docking to rectify latent defects from build and achieve delivery baseline

Wollongong

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Childers

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Launceston

01 Jul - 19 Sep

17 Dec - 31 Dec

20 Sep -25 Sep

26 Sep - 17 Dec

Unscheduled defect rectification

Planned operational release docking to rectify latent defects from build and achieve delivery baseline

Maryborough

01 Jul - 31 Dec

 

Glenelg

01 Jul - 14 Sep

30 Sep - 31 Dec

15 Sep - 29 Sep

Unscheduled defect rectification

(4) The operational manning strength in the Navy's Patrol Boat Force during the period was:

(a) 92.5 per cent crewed with engineer officers and 88.3 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) 98 per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 89.1 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.