New Ship for Australian Navy Arrives

The Navy’s newest ship, Australian Defence Vessel 'Ocean Shield', has arrived in Australia

The Australian Government announced earlier this year that it had purchased the vessel, formerly known as Skandi Bergen, to add to the Royal Australian Navy's current amphibious ships.

The vessel ensures that Defence has the humanitarian and disaster relief capability required between now and the arrival of the two new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships in the middle of the decade.

Ocean Shield will primarily be used to transport troops and supplies in support of humanitarian and disaster relief operations domestically and in the region,
and is also able to operate in sub-Antarctic weather conditions to undertake patrols in the Southern Ocean providing surveillance, detection and apprehension of any vessels operating illegally.

Ocean Shield is the sister ship of the Ocean Protector which is currently operated by Customs and Border Protection and undertakes these patrols.

The 6,500 tonne ship is 105m long and 21m wide. It has accommodation for up to 100 people, more than 1000 metres of deck area, and a helipad.