New agreement allows civilian ships to transfer to Defence flag in times of crisis

The Australian Navy has a new plan to bolster our forces if an enemy ship were to pose a national security threat. See how it will work.

Exclusive: Civilian ships can be seconded into military operations in times of crisis or emergencies under a Defence move to pool maritime resources to “advance national interests”.

With little fanfare, the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) three weeks ago to align military and civilian maritime jurisdictions.

The agreement would allow all civilian vessels to move from civil regulations authority to “Defence Flag administration” and UN conventions allowing the rapid and special access to the region’s ports, oceans and waterways to “deliver missions for the Australian government”.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond signs the MOU alongside Head of Navy Engineering Rear Admiral Kath Richards, AMSA CEO Mick Kinley and AMSA executive director operations Michael Drake in Russell Offices, Canberra.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond said the agreement provided greater agility for Defence and partner agencies to quickly respond to a variety of needs and contingencies in the maritime environment.

He said the move would bolster naval capability for Australia as a three-ocean island trading nation.

“Our seaborne supply chains and undersea infrastructure are the lifeblood of our economy, this underpins our way of life as a maritime nation,” he said of the agreement.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond takes a selfie with General Entry 408 Taylor Division graduating recruits at the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus, Victoria.

“This MOU is important as it allows Australia to better harness its resources in advancing the national interest in our maritime region. The agreement will support both Defence and AMSA to uphold Australia’s international obligations for vessel Flag administration, while enhancing Defence’s maritime response options in times of national necessity or crisis.”

Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst and former Defence and intelligence official Dr Marcus Hellyer welcomed the move.

“It’s a good step, it will allow civilian vessels to transition quickly to Navy service,” he said.

“That will be useful in time of crisis when Defence needs more sea lift ships for example, or specialist vessels that it doesn’t own, but needs them to operate under a Navy flag as that affords more privileges and protections. Overall it’s a good thing.”

Australian Defence Vessel ADV Reliant in Kiribati during inaugural deployment to Pacific region, providing surveillance support and delivering humanitarian aid and cited as an example of a civil to Defence Flag change. Picture: Defence

AMSA also welcomed the move it said now provided clarity and the agreement formalised any potential transfer from civilian operation to Defence.

“The MOU provides clarity for AMSA and Defence around processes for the transfer of vessels between commercial service and Defence operations. This ensures that the vessel remains compliant with maritime law when it returns to commercial service,” a spokeswoman said.

In signing, AMSA chief executive Mick Kinley said boss said it was an example of Australian Government organisations partnering for the benefit of the nation.

“We have a close and strong working relationship with Defence and this MOU will enable us to strengthen our maritime responses and operations across a range of situations,” Mr Kinley said.

The former oild and gas offshore supply vessel renamed by the ADF as ADV Reliant when it bought it in 2022 is an example of a commcerial ship brought into military service, albeit permanenently.

Originally published as New agreement allows civilian ships to transfer to Defence flag in times of crisis