David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 March 2012:

For the period 1 July to 31 December 2011:

(1) Which naval vessels were fully operational with a full crew complement.

(2) Which naval vessels were not fully operationally ready for immediate tasking.

(3) For each naval vessel that was non-operationally ready, what was the reason for its non operational status.

(4) What were the operational strengths on all naval vessels of the: (a) engineering officers and sailors; and (b) non engineering officers and sailors.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defencehas provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Major Surface Combatants and Amphibious Ships:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Surface Force naval vessels is summarised in the table below.

(4) Excluding HMA Ships Anzac/Stuart and Arunta, which were de-crewed at different stages of the second half of 2011, the operational manning strengths in the Navy's crewed Surface Force vessels during the period were as follows:

(a) Ninety six per cent crewed with engineering officers and 92 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) Ninety six per cent crewed with non-engineering officers and 90 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Submarines:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Submarine Force vessels is summarised in the attached table.

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Submarine Force during the period were:

(a) One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 95 percent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) Ninety per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 97 percent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Force are summarised in the attached table:

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Mine Hunting Force vessels (with the exception of Hawkesbury and Norman in Extended Readiness Availability) during the period were:

(a) Manning for all Mine Counter Measures (MCM) platforms was commensurate with tasking requirements. Mine Hunters were 98.6 per cent crewed with engineering officers (roles are performed by Chief Petty Officer marine technicians borne as senior technical officers) and 87.5 per cent crewed with engineering sailors. Engineering Department consists of both mechanical and electrical technicians; the majority of engineering manning shortfalls came from the Electrical Technician Branch. Mine Sweeper Auxiliary Wallaroo was commensurate with tasking requirements as of July 2011 at 7 days notice for sea, 100 per cent crewed with engineering officers roles (performed by Petty Officer marine technicians borne as senior technical officers) and 100 per cent crewed with engineering sailors.

(b) Due to an extant deficiency in qualified mine warfare and clearance diving officers, the Mine Hunters were manned with 83 per cent of the required skill set. Supplementation of the qualification requirements was achieved through the use of mine warfare officers and Australian Naval reserves. Non-engineering departments were manned with 93 per cent skill set required to achieve necessary tasks.

Hydrographic Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 01 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Hydrographic Forces is summarised in the attached table:

HMA Ship Operationally Available Not Operationally Available Comment

Note: Shepparton lost 22 days due to an undiagnosed viral -like illness that infected many of the crew and key command members. Appropriate health measures were taken including not exposing operational reliefs to the illness and therefore the ship was kept alongside until key personnel were fit for sea. The ship remained fully crewed, but remained alongside to ensure full and expeditious recovery of crew from illness.

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's hydrographic vessels during the period were:

(a) Hydrographic units were 100 per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with Engineer Sailors

(b) Hydrographic units were 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Patrol Boat Force:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 the operational availability status of Patrol Boat Force vessels is summarised in the attached table.

HMA Ship Operationally Available Not Operationally Available Comment

(4) The operational manning strength in the Navy's Patrol Boat Force during the period was:

(a) 92.5 per cent crewed with engineer officers and 88.3 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) 98 per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 89.1 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.