Defence: Ships

Senator Johnston asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 13 August 2009:

For the period 1 January to 30 June 2009:
(a) which ships were fully operational with a full crewing complement; (b) for each ship that was non-operational, what were the reasons for its non-operational status; (c) what were the operational strengths of the engineer officers and sailors on the ships; and (d) what were the operational strengths of non-engineer officers and sailors on the ships.

Senator Faulkner - The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:

1. Frigates. HMA Ships Ballarat, Warramunga, Parramatta (until March), Toowoomba (from February), and Arunta (from 19 June) were fully operational and fully crewed. HMA Ships Anzac, Stuart, Parramatta (from March), and Toowoomba (until February) were fully operational with managed crewing gaps commensurate with their scheduled activities.
   
   HMA Ships Sydney, Darwin and Melbourne were at a lower level of operational readiness with managed crewing gaps conducting the Northern Trident deployment (Sydney), FFG Upgrade trials, and training activities (Darwin and Melbourne).
   
   Amphibious and Afloat Support. HMA Ships Success, Kanimbla, Manoora, Tobruk, Balikpapan, Betano, Brunei, Labuan, Tarakan and Wewak. HMAS Sirius was fully operational and fully crewed until April when she was docked for scheduled maintenance.
   
   Minehunting Ships. HMA Ships Diamantina, Yarra, Gascoyne, Norman, Huon and Hawkesbury. Huon and Hawkesbury were configured and crewed as general patrol vessels rather than minehunters.
   
   Hydrographic Ships. HMA Ships Leeuwin, Melville, Benalla and Shepparton.
   
   Patrol Boats. HMA Ships Armidale, Bathurst, Larrakia, Albany, Pirie, Ararat, Maitland, Broome, Bundaberg, Childers, Wollongong, Launceston, Maryborough and Glenelg.
2. Frigates. HMAS Perth was non operational for the period, conducting preparations for Anti Ship Missile Defence upgrade. HMAS Newcastlewas non operational for the period, undergoing modifications and trials associated with the FFG Upgrade program. HMAS Arunta was non operational until late June as part of a planned initiative to recover Anzac class shortages of Technical Sailors
   
   Hydrographic Ships. HMA Ships Mermaid and Paluma conducted an upgrade to their survey system through the period which included slipping the ships and fitting new survey sensors and processors. During this period contractor trials, tests and evaluations were also undertaken.
   
   Patrol Boats. Bundaberg, Maitland, Armidale, and Albany were non-operational for short periods (about 10 days each) due to unscheduled maintenance; however, all units were replaced by another boat resulting in nil effect to operations.
3. Frigates. Average operational strength of Engineer Officers over the period was 96 per cent and operational strength of Engineer Sailors was 95 per cent.
   
   Amphibious and Afloat Support. Amphibious and Afloat Support Group (AASGRP) major fleet units were on average 83 per cent crewed with Engineer Officers and 80 per cent crewed with Engineer Sailors. AASGRP minor war vessels do not have Engineer Officers and were on average crewed with 96 per cent Engineer Sailors.
   
   Mine Warfare Ships. All Mine Hunters were crewed with 100 per cent Engineer Officers (roles are performed by Chief Petty Officer Marine Technicians borne as Senior Technical Officers) and 79 per cent Engineer Sailors.
   
   Hydrographic Ships. Hydrographic units were 100 per cent crewed with Engineer Officers and 97 per cent crewed with Engineer Sailors.
   
   Patrol Boats. All Patrol Boats were 100 per cent crewed with Engineer Officers (roles are performed by Chief Petty Officer Marine Technicians borne as Senior Technical Officers) by managing shortfalls through multi-crewing Personnel Deficiency Management system.
4. Frigates. Average operational strength of non-Engineer Officers was 93 per cent and non-Engineer Sailors was 92 per cent.
   
   Amphibious and Afloat Support. AASGRP major fleet units were on average 92 per cent crewed with non-Engineer Officers and 89 per cent crewed with non-Engineer Sailors. AASGRP minor war vessels were on average crewed with 100 per cent non-Engineer Officers and 85 per cent non-Engineer Sailors.
   
   Mine Warfare Ships. 87 per cent non-Engineer Officers and 84 per cent non-Engineer Sailors.
   
   Hydrographic Ships. Hydrographic and Mine Warfare Group units were 97 per cent crewed with non-Engineer Officers and 90 per cent non-Engineer Sailors.
   
   Patrol Boats. All Patrol Boats were 100 per cent crewed with non-Engineer Officers and Sailors.

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