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ACV Ashmore Guardian

The Custom’s vessel, ACV Ashmore Guardian, was stationed on a near–permanent basis in the Territory of the Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The islands are on the edge of the continental shelf, about 300 kilometres north west of the mainland. A former fishing supply vessel, Ashmore Guardian is 35 metres in length.

Protecting Australia’s remote maritime areas off north-western Australia is a major priority for Customs. In particular, guarding against the threats of environmental degradation, illegal fishing and people smuggling is an ongoing task. The Australian Customs Vessel Ashmore Guardian was stationed on a near-permanent basis at the Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve and Cartier Island Marine Reserves. The two marine reserves, covering an area of 750 km2, are about 320km off the Australian coast but only 150km south of the Indonesian Island of Roti.

The internationally significant coral ecosystems and the turtles, dugongs, sharks and seabirds use the reserves for feeding and breeding and are threatened by illegal fishing and poaching. The Ashmore Guardian allows Customs to conduct enforcement operations and assist with environmental management on a near continuous basis at Ashmore Reef.

The 34.9 metre specially modified commercial fleet support ship can carry up to ten Customs officers and government officials. It also enhances surveillance and enforcement activities undertaken by Customs and Australian Defence Force aircraft and patrol boats which are coordinated by the Border Protection Command to protect Australia’s offshore maritime areas.

A atypical operation involved a boat carrying 148 suspected asylum seekers which was intercepted off the coast of Western Australia. ACV Ashmore Guardian, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel east of Ashmore Islands 13 September 2015. Initial indications suggest there are 148 passengers and three crew on board. The passengers were transferred to Christmas Island.

McAlpine Marine Design [MMD] was founded in response to a need for technically qualified Naval Architects specialising in the small and novel craft areas. In its early years McAlpine Marine Design was involved primarily in consulting work in New South Wales, Australia for the fishing and light charter vessel industries. McAlpine Marine Design moved to Western Australia in 1986 and now has a diverse area of expertise, ranging from high speed light craft through to fishing vessels, tugs, dredges and floating industrial plants.

Due to MMD's long relationship with Kailis Seafoods and detailed knowledge of their fleet, MMD was engaged by the new owners of this vessel to carry out the design and stability work for the conversion refit of the Roper K. The project involved converting the vessel from a fisheries support vessel to Australian Customs Base Vessel for Ashmore Reef, located off the north western coast of Australia. This conversion was completed in March 2008.

Under a project called the Long Term Ashmore Capability (LTAC), a contract was awarded in early 2013 for a replacement. The new ship is 40 metres in length and is being built in Vietnam. The ship was due for delivery in 2014. MMD finished the design for the replacement vessel Ashmore Guardian, Thaiyak for Australian Customs and Border Protection. The vessel is a 40m on station vessel with an endurance of 120 days and 2750 nm. The vessel is constructed in steel with an aluminium superstructure. The vessel was built in Vietnam by Strategic Marine and was launched in March 2014. The vessel will be stationed at Ashmore Reef off north western Australia.

The Customs Marine Unit (CMU) within Maritime Operations Support Branch provides personnel for Customs Bay-class vessels and for support to civil vessels chartered by Customs to combat illegal foreign fishing in Australia’s northern and southern waters. All CMU officers are required to satisfy and maintain mandatory security, medical, dental, fitness and psychometric standards. They are trained in use of force, ship search and can undertake armed boardings at sea. Officers performing the role of tender coxswains have appropriate marine qualifications. In addition, the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts also provides training for Customs officers operating at Ashmore Reef.