Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: Navy prepares its fleet units to specified levels of readiness in accordance with guidance from Government through the CDF. Not all units are maintained at the same level of readiness. Those fleet units held at higher readiness for short notice operational roles are appropriately manned, equipped and trained for the tasks that they might have to perform. Fleet units at lower readiness will also be crewed in a manner that is best suited to their assigned tasking which includes maintaining core skills currency and training throughput. This might mean the reduction in certain trained/skilled positions filled in order to make way for additional trainees. Fleet units invariably go to sea with all available accommodation filled. To meet and sustain operational, exercise, preparedness and training requirements, fleet units are operated in a cycle of scheduled maintenance, training and operational availability. Planned major maintenance activity periods are a routine element of the operational cycle. Henceforth, and in order to provide a consistent means of reporting to correctly encapsulate the manner in which ships and submarines are managed as a fleet to meet operational preparedness, Navy intends to apply the following basic definitions upon which future unclassified responses to questions relating to the general issue of operational status of naval vessels. Within Operating Cycle A ship, submarine or unit when conducting assigned tasks and undergoing scheduled maintenance, including external maintenance and docking refits, in accordance with the vessel's designed servicing and support plan: this is referred to in Navy as the designed Usage Upkeep Cycle (UUC). This includes alongside periods dedicated to planned activities such as crew reconstitution, and maintenance and repair work which was pre-planned for the work package to be undertaken over the period designated as routine maintenance consistent with the vessels UUC. Outside Operating Cycle A ship, submarine or unit undergoing maintenance that is not in accordance with the vessel's designed servicing and support plan, the Usage Upkeep Cycle (UUC). This includes those periods in time when unscheduled maintenance requirements arise either through growth in a refit work package, or through unscheduled maintenance, which requires either an extension to the existing maintenance period, or results in a new maintenance period, for a period longer than that vessel's assigned operational readiness notice. A vessel will also be classified as non-operational where any other issue arises for which the vessel is subsequently unavailable for operations within its ascribed readiness notice. Examples include circumstances where an operational pause has been invoked for safety reasons or where insufficient skilled personnel are available to crew a vessel within its UUC. Private Briefing Opportunity The definitions provided are considered appropriate for an unclassified forum. Providing a more detailed breakdown of this data beyond these levels of fidelity in the public domain is considered inappropriate as it would allow insight into the Royal Australian Navy's overall Fleet preparedness posture. Navy is prepared to provide the Senator with a private briefing on the more specific aspects of overall Fleet preparedness between 1 January and 30 June 2011. Major Surface Combatants and Amphibious Ships: (1) to (3) During the period 1 January to 30 June 2011 the operational availability status of Surface Force naval vessels is summarised in the attached table. HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comment Frigates Darwin 1 Jan – 30 Jun Melbourne 1 Jan – 30 Jun Newcastle 1 Jan – 17 Apr 21 Apr – 8 May 14 May – 30 Jun 18 Apr – 20 Apr (1) 9 May – 13 May (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Sydney 1 Jan – 30 Jun Anzac 1 Jan - 30 Jun (1) 1. Extended Readiness. Insufficient Qualified Marine Technician (MT) sailors Arunta 1 Jan – 25 Feb 26 Feb – 30 Jun (1) 1. Extended Readiness. Insufficient Qualified Marine Technician (MT) sailors Ballarat 1 Jan – 30 Jun Parramatta 1 Jan – 30 Jun Perth 1 Jan – 30 Jun Stuart 1 Jan – 30 Jun Toowoomba 1 Jan – 30 Jun Warramunga 1 Jan – 30 Jun Afloat Support Ships Success 1 Jan–30 Jun (1) (1) IMO Conversion in Singapore & return to Australia passage for follow on maintenance Sirius 1 Jan – 12 Jun 25 Jun – 30 Jun 13 Jun–24 Jun (1) (1) Unscheduled Defect Rectification Amphibious Ships Kanimbla 1 Jan – 30 Jun Operational Pause Manoora 1 Jan – 27 May (1) (2) 1. Operational Pause 2. Decommissioned 27 May 11 Tobruk 1 Jan – 16 Jan 23 Feb – 30 Jun 17 Jan – 22 Feb (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Balikpapan 1 Jan – 30 Jun Betano 1 Jan – 30 Jun Brunei 1 Jan – 30 Jun Labuan 1 Jan – 30 Jun Tarakan 1 Jan –5 Jun 10 Jun – 30 Jun 6 Jun – 9 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Wewak 1 Jan – 30 Jun Excluding HMA Ships Anzac and Arunta, which were de-crewed, the operational manning strengths in the Navy's crewed Surface Force vessels during the period were as follows: Ninety-five per cent crewed with engineering officers and ninety-six per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and (b) Ninety-seven per cent crewed with non-engineering officers and ninety-six per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors. Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Forces: (1) to (3) During the period 01 January to 30 June 2011 the operational availability status of Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Force are summarised in the attached table: HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comments Mine Hunter Coastal Diamantina 01 Jan–30 Jun Gascoyne 01 Jan–30 Jun Huon 01 Jan–30 Jun Yarra 01 Jan–30 Jun Hawkesbury 01 Jan–30 Jun (1) 1. Government Approved placing this vessel at Extended Readiness Availability (de-crewed.) from December 2009. Norman 01 Jan–30 Jun (1) 1. Government Approved placing this vessel at five years Extended Readiness Availability (de-crewed.) from December 2009. Mine Sweeping Auxiliary Wallaroo 21 Feb – 30 Jun (2) 01 Jan–20 Feb (1) 1. This vessel was placed on short-term reactive notice for sea from October 2010 for Nuclear Powered Warship (NPW) support duties (de-crewed.) 2. The in 'operating cycle dates' relate to activation for NPW duties associated with allied vessels visits for Exercise Talisman Saber. Bandicoot 21 Feb – 30 Jun (2) 01 Jan–20 Feb (1) 1. This vessel was placed on short-term reactive notice for sea from October 2010 for Nuclear Powered Warship (NPW) support duties (de-crewed.) 2. The in 'operating cycle dates' relate to activation for NPW duties associated with allied vessels visits for Exercise Talisman Saber. Australian Clearance Diving Teams One 01 Jan–30 Jun Four 01 Jan–30 Jun (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 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 77 per cent crewed with engineering sailors. Mine Sweeper Auxiliaries were commensurate with tasking requirements as of Feb 11 at 30 days NFS, 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; and (b) Due to an extant deficiency in qualified Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officers, the Mine Hunters were manned with 83% of the required skill set. Coping strategies employed were the use of Mine Warfare Officers and supplementation from Australian Naval Reserves (ANR). Hydrographic Forces: (1) to (3) During the period 01 January to 30 June 2011 the operational availability status of Hydrographic Forces was as listed in the attached table: HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comment Leeuwin 1 Jan–17 Apr 21 Apr–30 Jun 18 Apr–20 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Melville 19 Feb – 07 Mar 15 Mar – 31 May 04 Jun – 30 Jun 01 Jan–18 Feb (1) 08 Mar–14 Mar (1) 01 Jun–03 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Paluma 01 Jan–09 Mar 15 Mar–06 Apr 21 Apr–30 Jun 10 Mar–14 Mar (1) 07 Apr–20 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Benalla 01 Jan–13 Jan 15 Feb–27 Mar 07 Apr–30 May 10 Jun–30 Jun 14 Jan–14 Feb (1) 28 Mar–06 Apr (1) 31 May–09 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Shepparton 01 Jan–09 Jan 15 Jan–14 Feb 28 Feb–07 Mar 15 Mar–27 Mar 07 Apr–30 Jun 10 Jan –14 Jan (1) 15 Feb–27 Feb (1) 08 Mar–14 Mar (1) 28 Mar–06 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Mermaid 01 Jan–14 Feb 17 Feb–27 Mar 05 Apr–31 May 21 Jun–30 Jun 15 Feb–16 Feb (1) 28 Mar–04 Apr (1) 01 Jun–20 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification (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 99 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 January to 30 June 2011 the operational availability status of Patrol Boat Forcevessels is summarised in the attached table. HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comment Armidale 01 Jan–17 Mar 21 Mar–05 Jun 18 Mar–20 Mar (1) 06 Jun–30 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Larrakia 01 Jan–10 Jan 14 Jan–22 Apr 29 Apr–30 Jun 11 Jan–13 Jan (1) 23 Apr–28 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Bathurst 01 Jan – 30 Jan 07 Feb–30 Jun 31 Jan–06 Feb (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Albany 01 Jan – 30 Jun Pirie 01 Jan – 27 Feb 23 May – 30 Jun 28 Feb–22 May (1) 1. Planned Operational Release Docking to rectify latent defects from build and achieve delivery baseline Maitland 01 Jan–17 Apr 28 Jun - 30 Jun 18 Apr - 27 Jun (1) 1. Planned Operational Release Docking to rectify latent defects from build and achieve delivery baseline Ararat 01 Jan – 30 Jun Broome 01 Jan–18 Jan 24 Jan – 8 May 15 May–30 Jun 19 Jan–23 Jan (1) 09 May–14 May (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Bundaberg 15 Apr – 30 Jun 1 Jan – 14 Apr (1) 1. Planned Operational Release Docking to rectify latent defects from build and achieve delivery baseline Wollongong 01 Jan–19 Feb 26 Feb – 24 May 29 May – 30 Jun 20 Feb– 25 Feb (1) 25 May–28 May (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Childers 01 Jan – 27 Feb 28 Mar – 30 Jun 28 Feb–27 Mar (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Launceston 01 Jan – 30 Jun Maryborough 01 Jan – 24 Mar 04 Apr - 30 Jun 25 Mar–03 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Glenelg 01 Jan–09 Apr 26 Apr–06 May 16 May–14 Jun 10 Apr–25 Apr (1) 07 May–15 May (1) 15 Jun–30 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification (4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Patrol Boat Force during the period were as follows: (a) One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and (b) One hundred per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors. Submarines: Details on the operational availability status of Submarine Force vessels has been provided separately (see Navy's response to Senate Questions on Notice No's. 752 to 758 – Submarine Availability and Crewing)