In a slice of Australian maritime history, a locally-flagged and crewed cargo vessel has become the country’s first reserve strategic fleet ship.
The ANL Kokoda will be part of a five-year pilot program to strengthen Australia’s shipping sovereignty and national security.
The 23,000 tonne cargo vessel will be available to federal agencies for use in times of emergencies or crises, such as natural disasters and supply disruptions.
Built in 2011, the vessel is 175 metres long and 27 metres wide, and designed for container cargo; it is also capable of hauling breakbulk cargo and load independently of ports.
Federal Transport Minister Catherine King says the Kokoda marks “an incredible chapter” in Australian maritime history.
“Recent global events have emphasised the importance of Australia having a resilient domestic maritime sector,” she says.
“The Kokoda will provide critical maritime capabilities, including by adding a new tool to be able to respond to disruption events.”
The strategic fleet is at the heart of a broader program to revive the maritime industry; other steps include a new Maritime Skills and Training Initiative, a crackdown on wage theft aboard foreign-flagged ships and review of the Coastal Trading Act.
The Maritime Union of Australia had earlier called for such a fleet to reduce the country’s exposure to overseas disruptions; click here to read that story.
AUSTRALIAN MARITIME FIRST
“ANL is proud to have been awarded a position in the Commonwealth’s strategic fleet,” the government-owned ANL’s Managing Director for Oceania, Esra Bora, says.
“Supporting Australia’s maritime supply chain and capability is central to our nation’s ability to utilise the sea for economic prosperity, essential trade and merchant shipping.
“We are pleased to be providing the ANL Kokoda as a platform to enhance Australia’s domestic capability and maritime workforce.”
The Kokoda is the first vessel in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program which will eventually comprise of 12 private Australian flagged and crewed vessels.
These vessels will be available for requisition by the government when needed.
