Hunter has the right aims
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READY TO ROLL: HMAS Huon, pictured at the top of the photo, is one the ships taking part in an innovative flexi-crewing trial. |
Volume 49, No. 16 , September 07, 2006
September 11 will mark the birth of Hunter One, Hunter Two and Hunter Three, the new crews for HMA Ships Huon and Hawkesbury.
Huon and Hawkesbury recently joined the ACPB fleet and other ADF assets in support of Operation Resolute, the ADF contribution to the protection of Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
They represent an innovative new flexi-crewing model, which has been designed to maximise opportunity for crew rest and respite in line with Sea Change principles while also providing maximum operational capability to CDF.
HMA Ships Huon and Hawkesbury will each conduct a rotating 18-week patrol in the North Australian Area in a General Purpose Patrol Vessel role.
Hunter One and Hunter Two will be operating on a fly-in, fly-out basis. Each will conduct a nine-week operational cycle, after which they will transfer responsibility for the platform, and the remainder of the patrol, to the opposite crew.
This facilitates maximum effectiveness of MHC support to Op Resolute, whilst minimising the adverse impact of lengthy deployments on crews and their families. Each crew will be running on a complement of 26 (plus trainees) reduced from the usual 40.
Hunter Three will form the third, non-seagoing crew. It has been establi
shed in order to provide maintenance support and crew administration facilities for Huon and Hawkesbury as they rotate out of the Op Resolute area of operations and return to HMASWaterhen.
This will allow the crews of Hunter One and Hunter Two the opportunity to enter an Operational Standby Period, which will consist of leave, courses, and general administration for maintaining individual and collective crew readiness.
Hunter Three will work in conjunction with FSU-W and ADI to plan, co-ordinate and conduct maintenance for the MHC GPPV platforms.
Op Resolute commenced on July 17, 2006 and is a consolidation of existing operations focusing on maritime security.
