HMAS Tobruk has been docked in Sydney since May while Defence undertakes scheduled maintenance to further assure the safety and reliability of the ship and to return it to 48 hours readiness notice.
Defence has previously chartered the P&O vessel Aurora Australis from May to August 12 to provide a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief sealift response vessel.
With HMAS Tobruk currently in the final phase of its scheduled maintenance period, it is expected to be available for a short period of time from end August to early September before it undergoes further scheduled and previously announced work to prepare it for the cyclone season which commences in November.
To provide an amphibious transport capability while HMAS Tobruk is prepared for cyclone season, Defence has negotiated the availability of the Australian Customs Vessel Ocean Protector to provide a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief sealift response vessel from August 12 until October 14 2011.
The Ocean Protector is in addition to Australia’s agreement with New Zealand that the New Zealand amphibious lift ship HMNZS Canterbury would be made available as part of the joint Pacific-focused Ready Response Force, subject to any operational requirements in New Zealand.
Navy continues to examine amphibious transport ship options from October 14 in addition to HMAS Tobruk in the lead up to the arrival of HMAS Choules at the end of this year.