Marine Unit (Australian Border Force)

The Marine Unit, formerly the Australian Customs Service National Marine Unit, is a division of the Australian Border Force (ABF) which acts as a coast guard for guarding Australia's coast. The Marine Unit focuses on surveillance and response activities within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, and the operation and training of ships and crews for these functions.

Operations

The CMU and the Border Protection Division (formerly known as Coastwatch) make up the Customs contribution to Maritime Border Command, a joint command with the Australian Defence Force and incorporating assets from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and state-level agencies. Maritime Border Command is responsible for protecting Australia's maritime areas, offshore assets, and external territories from threats, including the exploitation of natural resources, people smuggling, importation or exportation of drugs and other illegal items, piracy, and terrorism.

Facilities

The ABF maintains a permanent base of operations for the Marine Unit at the Port Darwin East Arm Wharf.

Ships

Ships operated by the CMU have been given the prefix Australian Border Force Cutter (ABFC) since the creation of the ABF. Ships were previously referred to as Australian Customs Vessels (ACVs).

Current ships

The largest ship in the ABF fleet is the 110.9-metre (364 ft) offshore patrol vessel ABFC Ocean Shield, which entered service in June 2012 and is a sister ship to ADV Ocean Protector. ABFC Thaiyak is a unique 40-metre (130 ft) vessel delivered in June 2014, intended to replace the ACV Ashmore Guardian for use around the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. In addition, charter arrangements give the ABF access to an additional twenty vessels of various sizes and types; these are called on when required to transport apprehended foreign fishermen and illegal entrants, or tow captured vessels. The ABF announced life extension work for two remaining Bay-class patrol boats and mid-life cycle works for the Cape-class patrol boats.

Small boats

In 2017, the ABF signed contracts to acquire 13 new harbour and coastal patrol boats. These vessels are stationed around the country and are used for a variety of operations including coastal patrol, surveillance and drug interdiction.

• ABF boat Rottnest Island, Fremantle
• An ABF harbour patrol vessel, Pilbara Coast, Fremantle, 2020
• ABF rigid-hulled inflatable boat Rottnest Island near Kwinana Bulk Terminal, August 2021

Future ships

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is acquiring ten Evolved Cape-class patrol boats to act as a stopgap replacement for the Armidale-class patrol boat as they await completion of the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels. It remains unclear if these Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels will be transferred to the ABF once all Arafura-class vessels have been commissioned into RAN service.

The 2023 Defence Strategic Review was reportedly considering removing the Arafura-class from RAN service and transferring them to the ABF Marine Unit; this is being considered as the Arafura-class lacks the capabilities required in high-end warfighting. Under that plan, the RAN would instead acquire a fleet of general purpose frigates.

Former ships

• Six Bay-class patrol boats – two each have been gifted to the Sri Lankan Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
• ACV Triton
• ACV Ashmore Guardian
• MV Oceanic Viking

• . Australian Security Magazine. 23 June 2010. Archived from on 4 March 2011.
• Parnell, Sean (26 July 2010). . The Australian.

External links