The Marine Unit , formerly the Australian Customs Service National Marine Unit , is a division of the Australian Border Force which acts as a Coast Guard in guarding Australia's coast. The Marine Unit focuses on surveillance and response activities within the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone , and the operation and training of ships and crews to do so.
6-828: The CMU and the Border Protection Division (formerly known as Coastwatch ) make up the Customs contribution to Maritime Border Command , a joint command with the Australian Defence Force and incorporating assets from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority , the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service , and state-level agencies. Maritime Border Command is responsible for protecting Australia's maritime areas, offshore assets, and external territories from threats, including
12-632: The Armidale-class patrol boat as they await the completion of the Arafura-class of patrol vessels. It remains unclear if these Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels will be transferred to the Australian Border Force once all Arafura-class vessels have been commissioned into RAN service. The Defence Strategic Review due in 2023 is reportedly considering removing the Arafura-class from Royal Australian Navy service and transferring them to
18-902: The Australian Border Force fleet is the 110.9-metre (364 ft) offshore patrol vessel ABFC Ocean Shield , which entered service in June 2012 and is a sister ship to ADV Ocean Protector . ABFC Thaiyak is a unique 40-metre (130 ft) vessel delivered in June 2014 intended to replace the ACV Ashmore Guardian for use around the Ashmore and Cartier Islands . In addition, charter arrangements give Customs access to an additional twenty vessels of various sizes and types; these are called on when required to transport apprehended foreign fishermen and illegal entrants, or tow captured vessels. The Australian Border Force announced life extension work for two remaining Bay-class patrol boats and mid-life cycle works for
24-456: The Cape-class patrol boats . In 2017 Australian Border Force signed contracts to acquire 13 new harbour and costal patrol boats. These vessels are stationed around the country and are used for a variety of operations including costal patrol, surveillance and drug interdiction . The Royal Australian Navy has procured 6 Evolved Cape-class patrol vessels to act as a stopgap replacement for
30-680: The exploitation of natural resources , people smuggling, importation or exportation of drugs and other illegal items, piracy, and terrorism. Australian Border Force maintains a permanent base of operations for the Marine Unit at the Port Darwin East Arm Wharf. Ships operated by the CMU have been given the prefix Australian Border Force Cutter ( ABFC ) since the creation of the Australian Border Force . Ships were previously referred to as Australian Customs Vessels (ACVs). The largest ship in
36-708: The Australian Border Force Marine Unit, this is being considered as the Arafura class lacks the capabilities required in high-end warfighting. Under that plan, the RAN would instead acquire a fleet of corvettes . Coastwatch The Australian Coastal Surveillance Organisation , also known as Coastwatch , was an operational division of the Australian Customs Service and the de facto Australian coast guard service . The former Coastwatch Division
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