Australia secures first vessel for strategic fleet to bolster maritime resilience

The vessel joins government maritime reserve system expanding crisis shipping access.

Australia has secured the ANL Kokoda, the first vessel in its Maritime Strategic Fleet under a five-year Strategic Fleet Pilot Program, according to the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King.

In a press release, the Minister said the large cargo vessel will be the first ship to participate in the Strategic Fleet Pilot Program, which forms part of a broader government plan to strengthen domestic maritime capability and reduce reliance on international shipping during crises.

The vessel will be Australian-flagged and crewed and will operate as part of a government-backed fleet intended to provide additional maritime capacity during emergencies, natural disasters, and supply chain disruptions.

It also aims to support economic sovereignty and national security by ensuring access to shipping capacity when commercial supply chains are disrupted.

The government will continue to work with industry to secure additional vessels for the fleet.

The programme also includes measures to expand maritime workforce capability through training initiatives and to support Australian seafaring employment, according to a separate press release. 

It forms part of a wider policy package that includes proposed legislative reviews of the Shipping Registration Act 1981 and the Coastal Trading Act 2012, alongside efforts to address wage compliance on foreign-flagged vessels operating in Australian waters.

Government agencies will be able to requisition the ship in times of need to deliver supplies and equipment to affected regions.