Senator Bob Carr: The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: Major Surface Combatants and Amphibious Ships: (1) to (3) During the period 01 January to 30 June 2012 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 01 Jan – 17 Feb 17 Mar – 30 Jun 18 Feb – 16 Mar (1) 1. Unscheduled maintenance Melbourne 01 Jan – 30 Jun Newcastle 01 Jan – 30 Jun Sydney 01 Jan – 01 Jun 02 Jun – 30 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled maintenance Anzac 01 Jan – 27 Jan 05 Mar – 30 Jun 28 Jan to 05 Mar (1) 1. Unscheduled maintenance Arunta 01 Jan – 30 Jun (1) 1. In Extended Readiness pending commencement of ASMD Upgrade Insufficient Qualified Marine Technician (MT) sailors Ballarat 01 Jan – 07 Mar 10 Mar – 14 Mar 24 Mar – 02 May 05 May to 30 Jun 08 Mar – 09 Mar (1) 15 Mar – 23 Mar (1) 03 May – 04 May (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification. Parramatta 01 Jan – 22 Jun 23 Jun – 30 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled maintenance Perth 01 Jan – 30 Jun Stuart 01 Jan – 30 Jun (1) 1. Extended Readiness. Insufficient Qualified Marine Technician (MT) sailors Toowoomba 01 Jan – 30 Jun Warramunga 01 Jan – 30 Jun Afloat Support Ships Success 27-30 June 01 Jan – 26 Jun (1) 1. Propulsion alignment work Sirius 01 Jan – 22 Mar 27 Mar – 30 Jun 23 Mar – 26 Mar (1) 1. Defect Rectification Amphibious Ships Tobruk 01 Jan – 06 May 27 Jun – 30 Jun 07 May – 18 May (1) 19 May – 26 Jun (2) 1. Unscheduled maintenance 2. Defect Rectification Choules 01 Jan – 03 Jun 13 Jun 04 Jun – 12 Jun (1) 14 Jun – 30 Jun (2) 1. Defect Rectification 2. Defect Rectification Balikpapan 01 Jan-18 Jun 18 Jun – 19 Jun (1) 28 Jun – 29 Jun (1) 1. Defect Rectification Betano 01 Jan – 30 Jun Brunei 01 Jan – 02 Apr 05 Apr – 30 Jun 03 Apr – 04 Apr (1) 1. Defect Rectification Labuan 01 Jan – 11 Mar 14 Mar – 17 Jun 20 Jun – 30 Jun 12 Mar – 13 Mar (1) 18 Jun – 19 Jun (1) 1. Defect Rectification Tarakan 01 Jan – 30 Jun Wewak 01 Jan – 30 Jun (4) Excluding HMA Ships Stuart and Arunta, which remained alongside Fleet Base West de-crewed and at Extended Readiness, the operational manning strengths in the Navy's crewed Surface Force vessels during the period were as follows: Ninety eight per cent crewed with engineering officers and ninety six per cent crewed with engineer sailors. The majority of engineering sailor shortfalls relate to Marine Technician-Electrical (MTE) sailors; and Ninety two per cent crewed with non-engineering officers and Ninety per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors. Submarines: (1) to (3) During the period 1 January to 30 June 2012 the operational availability status of Submarine Force vessels is summarised in the attached table. HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comment Collins 01 Jan – 30 Jun Dechaineux 01 Jan – 11 Mar 12 Mar – 26 Jun 27 Jun – 30 Jun (1) 1. Growth in Intermediate Docking period. Farncomb 01 Jan – 24 Jan 07 Feb –30 Jun 25 Jan – 06 Feb (1) 1. Growth of scheduled Intermediate Maintenance Availability (IMAV) Waller 01 Jan – 30 Jun In scheduled Mid Cycle Docking Sheean 01 Jan – 30 Jun In scheduled Full Cycle Docking Rankin 01 Jan – 30 Jun In scheduled Full Cycle Docking (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 Ninety Two percent crewed with engineer sailors; and (b) Ninety One per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and Ninety percent crewed with non-engineer sailors. Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Group: (1) to (3) During the period 1 January to 30 June 2012 the operational availability status of Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Force is summarised in the table below. HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comment Mine Hunter Coastal Diamantina 01 Jan – 30 Jun Gascoyne 01 Jan – 18 Apr 24 Apr – 30 Jun 19–23 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification. Huon 01 Jan – 30 Jun Yarra 01 Jan – 30 Jun Hawkesbury 1 Jan – 30 Jun (1) (1) Government approved placing this vessel at Extended Readiness Availability (de-crewed.) from December 2009. Norman 1 Jan – 30 Jun (1) (1) Government approved placing this vessel at Extended Readiness Availability (de-crewed.) from December 2009. Mine Sweeping Auxiliary Wallaroo 27 Feb – 27 May (2) 1 Jan – 26 Feb(1) 28 May – 30 Jun (1) 1. Extended Readiness Availability. 2. One crew shadow posted for reactivation to maintain mariner skills. Bandicoot 1 Jan –30 Jun (1) 1. Extended Readiness Availability. 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 99% crewed with engineering officers (roles are performed by Chief Petty Officer Marine Technicians borne as Senior Technical Officers) and 99% crewed with Engineering Sailors, including utilising operational relief sailors to fill personnel deficiencies due to illness, mandatory courses and leave. The Engineering Department consists of both Mechanical and Electrical Technicians; the majority of Engineering manning shortfalls came from the Electrical Technician Branch. One MSA crew (technical and non-technical sailors) was re-formed on 27 Feb 12 in order to conduct planned maintenance of both vessels, as well as two weeks of continuation training at sea. (b) Non-Engineering billets were manned with 98% skill set required to achieve necessary tasks. Hydrographic Group: (1) to (3) During the period 01 January to 30 June 2012 the operational availability status of Hydrographic Forces was: HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comment Leeuwin 01 Jan – 19 Feb 04 Mar – 18 Apr 26 Apr – 30 Jun 20 Feb – 03 Mar (1) 19 Apr – 25 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Melville 01 Jan – 30 Jun Paluma 01 Jan – 19 Mar 21 Mar – 17 Jun 23 Jun – 30 Jun 20 Mar (1) 18 Jun – 22 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Benalla 01 Jan – 18 Apr 24 Apr – 30 Jun 19 Apr – 23 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Shepparton 21 Jan – 5 Feb 10 Feb – 14 Feb 25 Feb – 15 Apr 26 Apr – 05 May 16 May – 30 Jun 01 Jan – 20 Jan (1) 06 Feb – 09 Feb (1) 15 Feb – 24 Feb (1) 16 Apr – 25 Apr (1) 06 May – 07 May (2) 08 May – 15 May (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Personnel Deficiency Mermaid 01 Jan – 11 Apr 15 Apr – 18 Apr 25 Apr – 30 Jun 12 Apr – 14 Apr (1) 19 Apr – 24 Apr (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% crewed with Engineer Officers and 99% crewed with Engineer Sailors. (b) Hydrographic units were 100% crewed with non-Engineer Officers and 100% crewed with non-Engineer Sailors. Patrol Boat Group: (1) to (3) During the period 01 January to 30 June 2012 the operational availability status of Patrol Boat Force vessels was: HMA Ship Within Operating Cycle Outside Operating Cycle Comment Armidale 01 Jan – 09 Feb 22Feb – 13 May 16 May – 30 Jun 10–21 Feb (1) 14–15 May (2) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Larrakia 01 Jan – 22 Jan 27 Jan – 18 Mar 13 Apr – 13 May 16 Jun – 30 Jun 23–26 Jan (2) 19 Mar – 12 Apr (2) 14 May – 15 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Bathurst 01 Jan – 05 Feb 06 Feb – 28 Feb 04 Mar – 13 Mar 20 Mar – 22 Apr 27 Apr – 30 May 14 Jun – 30 Jun 06–08 Feb (2) 29 Feb – 3 Mar (1) 14–19 Mar (1) 23–26 Apr (2) 31 May – 13 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Albany 01 Jan – 12 Feb 20 Feb – 18 Mar 26 Mar – 27 Apr 02 May – 17 Jun 18 Jun – 30 Jun 13–19 Feb (2) 19–25 Mar (2) 28 Apr – 01 May (1) 18–21 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Pirie 01 Jan – 01 Apr 04 Apr – 27 May 02–03 Apr (1) 28 May – 30 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Maintenance Maitland 01 Jan – 28 Feb 01 Mar 09 Mar – 08 Apr 10 Apr – 17 Jun 20 Jun – 30 Jun 29 Feb (1) 02–08 Mar (1) 09 Apr (2) 18–19 Jun (2) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Ararat 01 Jan – 30 Jun Broome 01 Jan – 13 Mar 27 Mar – 04 Jun 18 Jun – 30 Jun 14–26 Mar (1) 05–17 Jun (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Bundaberg 01 Jan – 05 Feb 06 Feb – 26 Feb 12 Mar – 01 Apr 05 Apr – 29 Apr 08 May – 27 May 15 Jun – 30 Jun 06–08 Feb (1) 27 Feb – 11 Mar (2) 02–04 Apr (2) 30 Apr – 07 May (1) 28 May – 14 Jun (2) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Wollongong 01 Jan – 30 Jun Childers 01 Jan – 18 Mar 22 Mar – 16 May 05 Jun – 17 Jun 19–21 Mar (2) 17 May – 04 Jun (1) 18–30 Jun (2) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Launceston 01 Jan – 29 Jan 3 Feb – 30 Jun 30 Jan – 02 Feb (1) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification Maryborough 01 Jan– 22 Apr 08 May – 27 May 29 May – 03 Jun 15 Jun – 30 Jun 23 Apr – 07 May (1) 28 May (2) 04–14 Jun (2) 1. Unscheduled Defect Rectification 2. Unscheduled Maintenance Glenelg 01 Jan – 01 Apr 16 Apr – 30 Jun 02–15 Apr (1) 1. Unscheduled Maintenance (4) The operational manning strength in the Navy's Patrol Boat Force during the period was: (a) 99 per cent1 crewed with engineer officers and 93 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and (b) 97 per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 93 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.