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Title

QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

Defence: Naval Vessels (Question No. 483)

Database

Senate Hansard

Date

18-08-2011

Source

Senate

Parl No.

43

Electorate

 

Interjector

 

Page

4920

Party

LP

Presenter

 

Status

Final

Question No.

483

Questioner

Johnston, Sen David

Responder

Evans, Sen Christopher

Speaker

 

Stage

 

Type

 

Context

QUESTIONS ON NOTICE

System Id

chamber/hansards/9ad85bef-6cdf-4332-894f-15d4be804a7b/0230


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Thursday, 18 August 2011
Page: 4920

Defence: Naval Vessels

(Question No. 483)


Senator Johnston asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 21 March 2011:

For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010:

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

(2) Which naval vessels were not fully operational ready for immediate tasking?

(3) For each naval vessel that was non-operational 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 Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 Navy met its obligations to designated operations and other short term directed tasking. Navy is not required to and does not prepare all fleet units to the same operational level of readiness. To do so would be unnecessary, inefficient and costly. The preparedness of fleet units is maintained at an appropriate level to meet strategic guidance and ensure effective training throughput.

Those fleet units held at higher readiness for short notice operational roles are appropriately manned, equipped and trained for the tasks that they might have to perform. Fleet units at other stages of the continuum will also be crewed in a manner that is best suited to their assigned tasking. This might mean the reduction in certain trained/skilled positions filled in order to make way for additional trainees. Fleet units invariably go to sea with all available accommodation filled.

To meet and sustain operational, exercise, preparedness and training requirements, fleet units are operated in a cycle of scheduled maintenance, training and operational availability. Planned major maintenance activity periods are a routine element of the operational cycle.

Major Surface Combatants and Amphibious Ships:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Surface Force naval vessels is summarised in Table 1 below.

Table 1

HMA Ship

Operational

Planned Major Maintenance

Non Operational

Frigates

Darwin

 

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

Melbourne

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Newcastle

1 Jul - 17 Oct

18 Oct - 31 Dec

 

Sydney

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Anzac

1 Jul - 17 Dec

 

18—31 Dec Extended Readiness

Arunta

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Ballarat

24 Oct - 31 Dec

1 Jul - 23 Oct

 

Parramatta

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Perth

 

1Jul - 31 Dec Anti Ship Missile Defence Upgrade

 

Stuart

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Toowoomba

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Warramunga

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Afloat Support Ships

Success

1 Jul - 1 Dec

1 Dec - 31 Dec

 

Sirius

1 Jul - 21 Nov

 

22 Nov - 31 Dec Unplanned Engine Defect Rectification

Amphibious Ships

Kanimbla

1 Jul - 26 Sep

 

27 Sep - 31 Dec Operational Pause

Manoora

1 Jul - 26 Sep

 

27 Sep - 31 Dec Operational Pause

Tobruk

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Balikpapan

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Betano

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Brunei

1 Jul - 4 Oct

5 Oct - 31 Dec

 

Labuan

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Tarakan

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Wewak

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Surface Force vessels (with the exception of Perth undergoing major upgrade) during the period were as follows:

Ninety-five per cent crewed with engineering officers and 96 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   Ninety-seven per cent crewed with non-engineering officers and 96 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Submarines:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Submarine Force vessels is summarised in Table 2 below.

Table 2

HMA Ship

Operational

Non Operational

 

 

Planned Major Maintenance

Collins

1 Jul - Mid Dec

Mid-End December: Certification Extension Docking

Waller

1 Jul - 31 Aug

1 Nov-31 Dec

September-October: Intermediate Maintenance Activity

Dechaineux

1 Jul - 30 Nov

December: Intermediate Maintenance Activity

Farncomb

 

01 Jul - 31 Dec: Intermediate Docking

Sheean

 

01 Jul - 31 Dec: Full Cycle Docking

Rankin

 

01 Jul - 31 Dec: Awaiting Full Cycle Docking

The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Submarine Force (crewed submarines Collins, Waller and Dechaineux) during the period were as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 99.4 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   Ninety-eight per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 93 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Mine Hunting Force vessels and Clearance Diving Force are summarised in Table 3 below.

Table 3

HMA Ship

Operational

Planned Major Maintenance

Non Operational

Mine Hunter Coastal

Diamantine

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Gascoyne

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Huon

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Yarra

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Hawkesbury

 

 

1 Jul-31 Dec

Extended Readiness Availability (de-crewed.)

Norman

 

 

1 Jul-31 Dec

Extended Readiness Availability (de-crewed.)

Australian Clearance Diving Teams

AUSCDT One

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

AUSCDT Four

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Mine Hunting:

(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 as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 88 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   Seventy-five per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Clearance Diving:

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Clearance Diving Force during the period were as follows:

(a) One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) Ninety-eight per cent crewed with non-engineer officers (Clearance Diving supervisors) and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors (Clearance Divers and support staff.)

Hydrographic Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Hydrographic Force vessels is summarised in Table 4 below. Exceptions are noted in the Non Operational column.

Table 4

HMA Ship

Operational

Planned Major Maintenance

Non Operational

 

Leeuwin

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

Five days (October): Gearbox Defect

Five days (November): Shaft Vibration

Melville

1 Jul - 1 Aug

 

Nine days (July): Fire fighting defect

2 Aug-31 Dec: Shaft Vibration

Paluma

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

 

Benalla

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

Three days (September): Crane Defect

Shepparton

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

Two days (October): Forward Looking Sonar

One day (November): Fire Detection Panel Defect.

Mermaid

1 Jul - 31 Dec

 

14 days (October): Fire Detection Panel Defect.

 

(4)   The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Hydrographic Force vessels during the period were as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   One hundred per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 99 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Patrol Boat Force:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Patrol Boat Force vessels is summarised in Table 5 below. Exceptions are noted in the Non Operational column.

Table 5

HMA Ship

Operational

Planned Major Maintenance

Non Operational

Armidale

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Albany

1 Jul-31 Dec

6 Sep-15 Oct: Operational Release Docking

 

Wollongong

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Broome

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

 

Larrakia

1 Jul-31 Dec

5 Jul-25 Oct: Operational Release Docking

18 Oct-2 Nov: Generator Defect

26 Nov-2 Dec: Defect Port Main Engine

Bathurst

1 Jul-31 Dec

6 Sep-15 Oct: Operational Release Docking

1-10 Jul: Fuel pump failure

7-14 Jul: Defects Port and Starboard Main Engines

22-26 Nov: Defect Seaboat Davit

Pirie

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

1-4 Jul: Shaft Seal failure

Maitland

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

11-15 Jul: Defect Port Main Engine

Ararat

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

1-18 Jul: Shaft Seal failure

8-31 Dec: Onboard Fire

Bundaberg

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

4-31 Dec: Onboard Fire

Childers

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

9-24 Nov: Bridge Equipment Defect

Launceston

1 Jul-31 Dec

1 Jul-26 Jul: Operational Release Docking

11-18 Nov: Defect Port Main Engine

Maryborough

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

23-30 Jul: Defect Port Main Engine

12-26 Aug: Defect Port Main Engine

Glenelg

1 Jul-31 Dec

 

2-17 Sep: Steering System Defect

8-16 Nov: Engineering Monitoring System Defect

 

(4)   The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Patrol Boat Force during the period were as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   One hundred per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.