Seagoing patrol vessels strengthen police CT role
by Ernie Davitt, National Affairs Editor, ASM
State Police marine commands are being strengthened with bigger, high-tech ocean-going patrol boats to help counter terrorism and seaborne crime.
As the NSW Police Service commissioned its new $11 million, 32-metre flagship, Nemesis, in July, the Queensland Police signed a contract for two new 22-metre vessels worth around $12 million.
Built by Tenix Defence, now BAE Systems Australia, in Western Australia, planning for the Nemesis started over four years ago.
The design and specifications were developed in 2005 after the three-day pursuit and seizure two years earlier of the Korean vessel, Pong Su, suspected of being used to carry drugs.
NSW Police had three boats involved in the chase prior to the arrival of Royal Australian Navy vessels, including HMAS Stuart.
The new aluminium-hulled vessel is not only the biggest police craft in Australia, it is the biggest in the southern hemisphere and is almost the same size as the Royal Australian Navy’s old Attack Class patrol boats.
It will be working with Commonwealth and State fisheries, in support of Customs and to counter marine criminal activity, particularly at sea off the NSW coast.
The Nemesis also has the range to participate in rescues effectively in the Tasman Sea between Sydney and New Zealand.
One of its first official duties was to lead the ‘boat-a-cade’ on Sydney Harbour during the Pope’s visit to Sydney.
The vessel is capable of staying at sea for up to 10 days, has a sprint speed of 27 knots and a range of 1350 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 20 knots.
Powered by two Caterpillar twin turbo-charged engines, the vessel has a crew of 10 and is equipped with satellite communications systems, a night-vision camera, desalination plant, has a remote control capability and is built from bullet-proof materials.
The Nemesis is equipped with integration provisions for future fitting of high-calibre weapons in the event of supporting a response to maritime terrorism.
It also carries a 6.4 metre rigid hull boarding craft which can be launched and retrieved from a specially designed ramp built into the stern of the vessel.
This craft can be launched in most sea states and is easily recovered due to the Tenix design of the stern.
The vessel carries a four person boarding party for investigating suspicious vessels at sea.
Inspector Joe McNulty, who is Controller Fleet, Regional & Ocean Area, of the NSW Police Marine Area Command, told ASM: “Tenix Defence has built an exceptional vessel for the NSW Police Force.
This basically was achieved by the commitment of Project and Design Managers in the Fremantle Ship yard.
“The vessel was modeled on the hull of the Phillipines Coast Guard vessel built by Tenix and has been built to para-military standard which will support the NSW Police role in policing the offshore environment.”
Inspector McNulty said the new flagship was very reliable and had proven itself in gale conditions at sea.
“I was on her during her return voyage to Sydney, when Nemesis crossed Bass Strait with the NSW Police crew navigating through strong gale force conditions with nine-metre seas and wind gusting over 50 knots,” he said.
“She handled beautifully.”
The Nemesis will support operations with the Australian Customs Service and continue in joint tasking and operations.
The design of the vessel allows the Nemesis to communicate with both Customs and Royal Australian Navy vessels.
The Nemesis was presented to NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, Police Minister, David Campbell, NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, and Marine Area Commander, Superintendent Mark Hutchings, at Water Police headquarters, Balmain on 8 July.
The new state-of-the-art vessel will be stationed in Sydney and refuel in Eden, on the NSW south coast.
As the Nemesis was entering service, Australian shipbuilder Austal signed a contract worth around $12 million to build three long-range 22-metre catamaran police boats for the Queensland Police Service at its Tasmanian construction facilities.
Austal was awarded the contract following a competitive national tender process for the construction of the vessels, designed by One2three Naval Architects in Sydney.
With a cruising speed of 20 knots and a minimum range of 700 nautical miles, the Queensland police vessels have the capability to patrol remote, tropical locations for extended periods, as far north as Thursday Island.
Further information is available from Inspector Joe McNulty, NSW Police Marine Area Command: Ph 02 93207499 or NSW Police www.police.nsw.gov.au/news.
About the author: Ernie Davitt is the National Affairs Editor for Australian Security Magazine.