Media Room: Media Releases

CONTRACT SURVEYING IN THE TORRES STRAIT AND NORTHERN GREAT BARRIER REEF

The Department of Defence has chosen Perth-based Fugro Survey Pty Ltd to undertake Phase 2 of the Fisheries Protection Survey and Charting Project.  

As part of the Government’s $388.9 million plan to combat illegal foreign fishing in the northern Australian waters, $18.5 million was allocated to the Royal Australian Navy over three years to facilitate the charting of the Torres Strait and northern Barrier Reef.

This project has been initiated by the Government to provide accurate charting of the northern waters of Australia.

The Fisheries Protection Survey and Charting Project will accelerate the charting of the Torres Strait to enable Defence and other enforcement agency vessels to navigate safely in currently uncharted waters to carry out enforcement operations.

Fugro Survey Pty Ltd will undertake survey operations in the Torres Strait and utilise both local and overseas contractors.

It is expected that over 12,000 square kilometres will be surveyed during the project, with Phase 1 collecting 6,360 square kilometres of survey data. This data is being released on preliminary charts to Border Protection Command. 

Survey operations are due to commence in November 2007 and conclude in January 2009.

The surveying will be conducted to International Hydrographic Organisation standards and the date collected will be used by the Australian Hydrographic Service to update navigational charts, including Electronic Navigational Charts. 

Media contact: Defence Media Liaison (02) 6265 3343 or (0408) 498 664

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