46-556: The MV Oceanic Viking was an armed patrol vessel of the Australian Customs Service . Originally built in 1996 as the offshore supply vessel Viking Lady for Norwegian shipping company Eidesvik Shipping AS , the ship was converted into a cable layer in 2000 and renamed Oceanic Viking . The ship was chartered to the Australian Customs Service through P&O Marine Services from 2004 to 2010. In 2011, it
92-562: A campaign release that it would "pursue incorporation of the Ashmore & Cartier Islands into the Northern Territory before or at the time of Statehood". However, these efforts did not lead to any changes. The Ashmore Reef Marine Park and Cartier Island Marine Park are both classed as strict nature reserves (IUCN Ia) and protect biodiverse areas of significant and international importance, as well as cultural heritage. Cartier Island
138-595: A major political issue in Australia. The Australian Government argued that as Australia was not the country of first asylum for these " boat people ", Australia did not have a responsibility to accept them. A number of things were done to discourage the use of the Territory for this purpose, such as attempting to have the people smugglers arrested in Indonesia; the so-called Pacific Solution of processing them in third countries;
184-658: A medical distress call from the Kerguelen Islands . In December 2007, the Australian government tasked the Oceanic Viking with monitoring Japanese -flagged vessels involved in whaling in the Southern Ocean. During the seven-week surveillance exercise, personnel aboard Oceanic Viking filmed Japanese whalers and their activities to gather evidence for possible legal action. The machine guns were secured below deck during
230-611: A month, were determined to be refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and resettled in several countries. While travelling back to Australia, Oceanic Viking intercepted a boat on 3 December carrying 53 suspected asylum seekers and four crew off the Ashmore Islands ; the 50th asylum seeker vessel to be intercepted in Australian waters in 2009. Oceanic Viking was taken out of service in June 2011. It
276-446: A newly installed power cable loading arm. Australian Customs and Border Protection Service The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service was an Australian federal government agency responsible for managing the security and integrity of the Australian border and facilitating the movement of legitimate international travellers and goods, whilst protecting the safety, security and commercial interests of Australians. It
322-457: A transfer of control. A British order-in-council dated 23 July 1931 stated that Ashmore and Cartier Islands would be placed under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia when Australia passed legislation to accept them, and formal administration began two years later. The Commonwealth's resulting Ashmore and Cartier Islands Acceptance Act 1933 came into operation on 10 May 1934, when
368-501: Is an uninhabited Australian external territory consisting of four low-lying tropical islands in two separate reefs (Ashmore and Cartier), as well as the 12-nautical-mile (22 km; 14 mi) territorial sea generated by the islands. The territory is located in the Indian Ocean situated on the edge of the continental shelf , about 320 km (199 mi) off the northwest coast of Australia and 144 km (89 mi) south of
414-490: Is an unvegetated sand island , with access prohibited because of the risk of unexploded ordnances . There are no ports or harbours, only offshore anchorage. Today, all the wells in the Territory are infected with cholera or contaminated and undrinkable . The Australian Border Force vessel ABFC Thaiyak is stationed off the reef for up to 300 days per year. The islands are also visited by seasonal caretakers and occasional scientific researchers. The area around
460-470: Is complex and diverse and requires a very considered and increasingly targeted approach to conducting our business. If we do not manage our responsibilities effectively, the potential impacts… may negatively affect the Australian community, international travellers and trade relations both here and overseas” The Service was Australia's predominant border control agency. From international travellers at airports, to overseas mail and trade brought in by sea, it
506-675: The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 . Cartier Island, which was a former bombing range, became a marine reserve in 2000. After the islands became a first point of contact with the Australian migration zone , in September 2001, the Australian Government excised the Ashmore and Cartier Islands from the Australian migration zone. Ashmore has been regularly visited and fished by Indonesian fishermen since
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#1732855777145552-466: The 2010 federal election . In that year the responsibility for Australian territories was transferred to the then Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport , and from 18 September 2013 the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development has administered Australian territories. Defence of Ashmore and Cartier Islands is the responsibility of Australia, with periodic visits by
598-567: The Australian Border Force , a single frontline operational border agency, was established within the department. The Australian Border Force draws together the operational border, investigations, compliance, detention and enforcement functions of the two former agencies, as well as policy, regulatory and corporate functions. When it existed, each week the Service would: Ashmore Islands The Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
644-683: The Jabiru and Challis oil fields , which are adjacent to the Territory, and which are administered by the Northern Territory's Department of Mines and Energy on behalf of the Commonwealth. As Ashmore Reef is the closest point of Australian territory to Indonesia, it was a popular target for people smugglers transporting asylum seekers en route to Australia. Once they had landed on Ashmore Island, asylum seekers could claim to have entered Australian migration zone and request to be processed as refugees. The use of Ashmore Island for this purpose created great notoriety during late 2001, when refugee arrivals became
690-770: The Office of Transport Security . Customs controlled the import and export of goods to and from Australia, in particular the control of prohibited or restricted items, and the interception of illegal and potentially harmful goods such as drugs, weapons and computer games. Techniques used to target high-risk aircraft, vessels, cargo, postal items and travellers included using intelligence, computer-based profiling and analysis, detector dogs , Smartgate , container X-ray facilities, closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring and other means. Customs officers at air and sea ports, in addition to performing basic immigration control (see below), assessed passengers arrival and departure cards , and had
736-552: The Royal Australian Navy , Royal Australian Air Force and the Australia Border Force . Nearby Hibernia Reef, 42 km (26 mi) northeast of Ashmore Reef, is not part of the Territory, but belongs to Western Australia . It has no permanently dry land area, although large parts of the reef become exposed during low tide. The Northern Territory government has claimed on multiple occasions (1989, 1996) that
782-459: The Southern Ocean . Later that month, the ship apprehended three Indonesian vessels illegally fishing near the Northern Territory's Wessel Islands ; one of the vessels failed to stop when ordered, and one of Oceanic Viking ' s machine guns was used to fire warning shots . In October 2006, Oceanic Viking traveled 1,800 nautical miles (3,300 km; 2,100 mi) in eight days to answer
828-636: The Union Jack on a flagpole and singing " God Save the King ", while Cambrian returned a 21-gun salute . After their annexation, the British Government occasionally granted licences on the islands for fishing or guano extraction. In the 1920s, the islands were used as a base for poachers targeting the Western Australian pearling industry . The lack of effective policing led to Australian lobbying for
874-525: The 'National Counter-Terrorism Plan', which was a plan intended to mitigate any risk of terrorism in Australia. The Service worked in conjunction with other Australian Government departments to screen and target any potential threats moving across the border, including: The Service was responsible for processing all travellers entering and leaving the country. At the border, Service officers would check all passengers to ensure compliance with customs, immigration and quarantine requirements. The Service's purpose
920-452: The Ashmore and Cartier Islands has been a traditional fishing ground of Indonesian fishermen for centuries, and continues. In the 1850s, American whalers operated in the region. Outside of fishing, the islands were historically used as sources of guano , beche-de-mer , trochus and tortoiseshell . Mining of phosphate deposits took place on Ashmore Island in the latter half of the 19th century. Petroleum extraction activities take place at
966-429: The Ashmore and Cartier Islands should be returned to their jurisdiction, instead of remaining a separate territory. The Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs recommended in a 1991 report that the Northern Territory annex the islands. In 1998, John Howard 's Coalition debated the issue in the leadup to the 1998 Northern Territory statehood referendum , and stated in
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#17328557771451012-567: The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service was established. In 2015, the Australian Government announced changes to the Immigration and Border Protection portfolio in relation to future border protection arrangements. From 1 July 2015, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service were consolidated into a single Department of Immigration and Border Protection. At this time,
1058-453: The Australian Government's customs agency until 1985 when the Australian Customs Service was established. In December 2008 then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that the Australian Government would be augmenting, re-tasking and renaming the Australian Customs Service to create the new Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Royal Assent was given to the changes on 22 May 2009 and
1104-569: The EEZ. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service had its origins in the Department of Trade and Customs , established at federation in 1901. The organisation was restructured several times since, including becoming the Department of Customs and Excise in 1958 and then briefly the Department of Police and Customs in 1975. Later that same year, the Bureau of Customs was established, which remained
1150-610: The Indonesian island of Rote . Ashmore Reef is called Pulau Pasir by Indonesians and Nusa Solokaek in the Rotenese language . Both names have the meaning "sand island". The territory comprises Ashmore Reef, which includes West, Middle and East Islands , in addition to two lagoons, as well as Cartier Reef, which includes Cartier Island . Ashmore Reef covers approximately 583 km (225.1 sq mi) and Cartier Reef 167 km (64 sq mi), both measurements extending to
1196-555: The Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) for tourists visiting Australia temporarily or Australian residents leaving the country, allowing them, under certain conditions, to claim a refund of the GST or Wine equalisation tax on items purchased in Australia. The Service was the lead agency in the Australian government's response to people-smuggling and often performed activities on behalf of other agencies including: The Service operated under
1242-410: The authority to scan and search passenger baggage. Quarantine risk material could be referred to Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service officers. Goods arriving from overseas by post were cleared by Customs and AQIS officers before being released to Australia Post for delivery. Customs collected goods and services tax (GST) on taxable goods imported into Australia. Customs administered
1288-487: The early eighteenth century. A 1974 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Australia and Indonesia sets out arrangements by which traditional fishers can access resources in Australia's territorial sea in the region. This allows traditional Indonesian fishermen to access parts of Ashmore for shelter, freshwater and to visit grave sites. The area, known as the MOU Box , contains the Ashmore and Cartier Islands Territory. Today,
1334-631: The importing of any material of an offensive, grotesque or otherwise objectionable nature. The Service worked to prevent the importation of material that was either refused classification by the Australian Classification Board, or was unclassified but would likely be refused classification by the Australian Classification Board . This included material in electronic form such as CDs or DVDs, computer hard drives and within electronic games. Prohibited material included, but
1380-554: The islands formally became a territory. The act authorised the Governor of Western Australia to make ordinances for the territory. In July 1938 the territory was annexed to the Northern Territory , then also administered by the Commonwealth, whose laws, ordinances and regulations applied to the Northern Territory. When self-government was granted to the Northern Territory on 1 July 1978 , administration of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
1426-447: The limits of the reefs. West, Middle and East Islands have a combined land area variously reported as 54 hectares (130 acres), 93 hectares (230 acres) and 112 hectares (280 acres). Cartier Island has a reported land area of 0.4 hectares (0.99 acres). According to Australian literature, Cartier Island was visited by Captain Nash in 1800, and named after his ship Cartier . Ashmore Island
MV Oceanic Viking - Misplaced Pages Continue
1472-830: The patrol of remote Australian and international waters, and aerial surveillance of Australia's coastline. To achieve these functions, the Service operated its own air and sea patrol unit, the Customs Marine Unit . The Service used an intelligence-led, risk-based approach to managing threats, focussing on specific targets that may pose a risk to the border. This allowed the agency to plan coordinated responses, interventions and strategies with various other government agencies, including; Australian Crime Commission , Australian Federal Police , Attorney-General's Department , Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry , Department of Defence , Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade , Department of Immigration and Border Protection and
1518-624: The surveillance mission. During the deployment, two Sea Shepherd Conservation Society protesters who boarded the whaling ship Yūshin Maru No. 2 were transferred to Oceanic Viking after being detained by the Japanese. The Australian government regarded the operation as successful, but it was criticised by some political commentators, such as Dennis Shanahan , as not having been effective in countering Japanese whaling, and potentially harming Japanese-Australian relations . In October 2009, Oceanic Viking
1564-555: The territory is administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts , which is also responsible for the administration of the territories of Christmas Island , Cocos (Keeling) Islands , the Coral Sea Islands , Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island . The Attorney-General's Department had been responsible for the administration of Australian territories until
1610-400: Was flagged as an Australian vessel, and was operated by a 60-strong crew, including Customs and Fisheries personnel, along with civilians. Oceanic Viking was fitted with two .50 calibre machine guns , making it the first Australian-flagged merchant vessel to be armed in peacetime. In early September 2005, Oceanic Viking intercepted a 2,000 GT Cambodian vessel found poaching in
1656-516: Was converted to an armed patrol vessel and bareboat chartered to P&O Maritime Services , who operated the ship for the Australian Customs Marine Unit . The vessel was primarily assigned to patrols of Australia's southern offshore territories for illegal fishers, particularly those seeking Patagonian toothfish , but was also deployed on other border protection and patrol operations around Australia. While chartered, Oceanic Viking
1702-523: Was headquartered in Canberra and employed over 5,800 people around Australia and overseas. The agency was under the jurisdiction of the Attorney-General's Department from 2009 to 2013, and then transferred to the newly formed Department of Immigration and Border Protection in 2013, until its transformation into the Australian Border Force in 2015. The Service defined its role as follows: “Our role
1748-452: Was installed onto the vessel's stern, from which cables could be lowered onto the sea bed. Other work included a major overhaul of the generators, modifications to the steelwork inside the hangar accommodating the ROVs and to the switchboard, electrical repairs and refurbishment of the pumps. The European Supporter has the capacity to accommodate 5,000 tons of power cable in two static tanks, using
1794-406: Was involved in an operation to apprehend 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers and move them to an Australia-funded immigration detention centre on the Indonesian island of Bintan for processing. The asylum seekers were taken to Indonesia but refused to disembark until 17 November, after a preferential processing deal was agreed upon. The 78 asylum seekers were transferred to Indonesian detention, and after
1840-417: Was not limited to: The Service was the lead agency coordinating regular patrol (both aerial surveillance and on-water) of Australia's 'Exclusive Economic Zone' to detect and deter any foreign fishing vessels. Along with dedicated in-country education programs designed to deter people from undertaking illegal fishing , the Service's work saw a continual decline in the rates of foreign fishing vessels entering
1886-485: Was purchased by A&P Tyne , Isle of Man, and renamed European Supporter . The ship was built in 1996 for Norwegian shipping company Eidesvik Shipping AS as an offshore supply vessel and named Viking Lady . The vessel is 105.6 metres (346 ft) long and has a gross tonnage of over 9,000. In 2000, the ship was converted to a cable layer , renamed Oceanic Viking , and used for laying optic fiber cables between Europe and North America. In 2004, Oceanic Viking
MV Oceanic Viking - Misplaced Pages Continue
1932-591: Was replaced by the chartered offshore supply ship MV Skandi Bergen which was renamed ACV Ocean Protector . Oceanic Viking subsequently became the UK-flagged MV European Supporter . The European Supporter was fitted out at A&P Tyne , so she would be able to install power cables between wind turbines to take advantage of the rapidly expanding offshore renewables market in the UK and Europe. A 7 m (23 ft) long abrasion resistant steel chute
1978-521: Was responsible for the continued safety and security of the people and goods that travel across Australia's borders. In conjunction with the Australian Defence Force, the Service facilitated Australia's response to the detection and rescue of 'suspected irregular entry vessels' that smuggled people from South-East Asia into Australian waters. The agency was also responsible for the discovery and apprehension of 'illegal foreign fishing vessels',
2024-470: Was retained by the Commonwealth. In 1947, interior minister Herbert Johnson became the first Australian government minister to visit the territory. The Age reported that Johnson had been unable to land due to rough seas and regarded the islands as "almost valueless". In 1983, the territory was declared a nature reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 , now replaced by
2070-640: Was seen by Captain Samuel Ashmore in 1811 from his ship Hibernia and named after him. Ashmore Island was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1878, as was Cartier Island in 1909. In December 1905, HMS Cambrian formally took possession of the Ashmore Islands on behalf of the United Kingdom. The ship's commander Captain Ernest Gaunt went ashore accompanied by five officers and around 200 seamen, erecting
2116-481: Was to stop people without correct documentation or visas from entering the country. One of the largest areas of work undertaken by the Service was in relation to the importation of narcotics and precursor substances and the smuggling of illegal amounts of tobacco. Examination techniques such as x-ray, trace detection technology and detector dogs were used to screen people, goods, mail, vessels and aircraft moving across Australia's border. Australian law prohibits
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