Coastwatch sends out surveillance call

By Graham Davis

Private companies have been invited to tender for a series of contracts for surveillance of Australia’s 37,000km coastline and massive maritime zone from 2007 onwards.

The new contracts will come into force when existing contract arrangements expire.

Releasing a Request for Tender (RFT) for Australia’s civil maritime surveillance operation which is run by Coastwatch, the Customs Minister, Senator Chris Ellison said private firms played a crucial role in protecting Australia’s borders from illicit drugs, illegal arrivals, disease and other threats to the nation’s welfare.

He said the Prime Minister had earlier announced that all current Coastwatch contracts using 17 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters based in Broome, Darwin, Cairns and the Torres Strait, would continue until June 2007.

Senator Ellison said tenders were sought for two services:

• Service A - Full surveillance delivery to the inshore and offshore zones of the EEZ and remote areas, complemented by a wide area surveillance capability for use predominantly south of the Tropic of Capricorn and
• Service B - Provision of a helicopter surveillance and response service for the Torres Strait.

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