The Australian government has secured the first vessel in its Maritime Strategic Fleet, the ANL Kokoda.
The ANL Kokoda, a large cargo ship, will be the first to participate in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program – sovereign shipping capability intended to help strengthen Australia’s economic sovereignty and improve national security.
The vessel will be available to government agencies to requisition for the delivery of supplies, equipment and assistance in times of need, emergencies or crises such as natural disasters and supply chain disruptions. Other vessels will be acquired in future.
As part of the five-year pilot, the vessel will become Australian-flagged and crewed, helping to re-build the national shipping industry. The government states that this will bolster resilience and help grow the local maritime workforce to ensure the country has the skills and capabilities to operate its ports and maritime services.
The Strategic Fleet is the central component of a broader program of work that aims to revitalise the Australian maritime industry. This includes the establishment of the Maritime Skills and Training Initiative, cracking down on wage theft aboard foreign-flagged ships, and reviewing the Coastal Trading Act.
Jarrod Moran, executive officer at Nautilus Federation affiliate union the AMOU said: ‘AMOU is pleased to see that the long-awaited Australian strategic fleet is now taking shape. The fact that the vessel is flagged and crewed in Australia is essential to ensure that the fleet is one that can be ready to support Australia’s national security and domestic supply chains whenever it may be needed. We look forward to seeing further additions to the fleet soon.
‘The strategic fleet will provide vital training opportunities for young Australians who will be the next generation of tug masters, harbourmasters and marine pilots. We all saw the scramble by the federal government in securing tankers to provide our national fuel when the Strait of Hormuz first shut. A worldwide shortage of officers provides the real possibility that although tankers will be available, navigation officers might not. The strategic fleet ensures Australia can recruit, employ and train our own seafarers for this non-transferable task.’
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