COASTAL SHIPS

MASTERS OF THE MISSION

BOATING FEEL

Coastal Ships – Survey Motor Launches, Minehunters, Survey Motor Boat

Australian Ex-military coastal ships have navigated our Aussie waters with unparalleled expertise. The decommissioned Seahorse Horizon, Paluma-Class Survey Motor Launchers, the formidable Huon-Class Minehunters and various Tugs have provided key capabilities for maritime and commercial trade through the provision of hydrographic data, mine countermeasure operations, recovery and training exercises. They are a testament to Australia’s naval prowess and coastal defence commitment.

These vessels were ideally repurposed in civilian settings for various chartering functions and surveying for infrastructure planning and research.

These ships symbolise resilience and dedication to safeguarding Australia’s coastal integrity.

Coastal Ships – Survey Motor Launches, Minhunters, Survey Motor Boat

Australian Ex-military coastal ships have navigated our Aussie waters with unparalleled expertise. The decommissioned Seahorse Horizon, Paluma-Class Survey Motor Launchers, the formidable Huon-Class Minehunters and various Tugs have provided key capabilities for maritime and commercial trade through the provision of hydrographic data, mine countermeasure operations, recovery and training exercises.

These vessels were ideally repurposed in civilian settings for various chartering functions and surveying for infrastructure planning and research.

These ships symbolise resilience and dedication to safeguarding Australia’s coastal integrity.

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Paluma-Class
Seahorse Horizon
Minehunter
Survey Motor Boat

COASTAL SHIP VARIANTS

Explore the range of Australian Ex-Military Coastal Ships previous made available through our auctions.

  • Name: Paluma
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A01
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
  • Name: Mermaid
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A02
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
  • Name: Shepparton
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A03
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
  • Name: Benalla
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A04
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
  • Name: Hawkesbury
  • Class: Huon-Class Minehunter
  • Builder: Australian Defence Industries
  • Hull Number: M 83
  • Launched: 1998
  • Commissioned: 2000
  • Home Port: HMAS Waterhen
  • Max Displacement: 732 tonnes
  • Length: 52.5 m (172 ft)
  • Beam: 9.9 m (32 ft)
  • Draught: 3 m (9.8 ft)
  • Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h’ 16 mph) on diesel 6 knots (11 km/h’ 6.9 mph) on thrusters
  • Name: Norman
  • Class: Huon-Class Minehunter
  • Builder: Australian Defence Industries
  • Hull Number: M 84
  • Launched: 1999
  • Commissioned: 2000
  • Home Port: HMAS Waterhen
  • Max Displacement: 732 tonnes
  • Length: 52.5 m (172 ft)
  • Beam: 9.9 m (32 ft)
  • Draught: 3 m (9.8 ft)
  • Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h’ 16 mph) on diesel 6 knots (11 km/h’ 6.9 mph) on thrusters
  • Name: Seahorse Horizon
  • Builder: Stirling Marine Services, WA
  • Use: Training & Support Operations
  • Christened: 1984 (as MV Blue Nabilla)
  • Acquired: 1998 Defence Maritime Services
  • Service: 1998-2018
  • Home Port: HMAS Creswell
  • Identification: IMO 8406200
  • Max Displacement: 670 tonnes
  • Length: 42.7 m (140 ft)
  • Beam: 9.5 m (31 ft)
  • Draught: 4 m (13 ft)
  • Speed: 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h’ 13.2 mph)
  • Compliment: 6 Civilian or 9 Navy (for training)
  • Name: Fantome Class John Gowland SMB100
  • Builders: Pro Marine, Seaford, VIC
  • Built: 1984
  • Identification: IMO 8310580
  • Max Displacement: 7.48 tonnes
  • Length: 10.7 m (35 ft)
  • Beam: 2.9 m (9.5 ft)
  • Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h, 32 mph)
  • Compliment: 4

COASTAL SHIP VARIANTS

Explore the range of Australian Ex-Military Coastal Ships made available through our auctions.

HMAS PALUMA
  • Name: Paluma
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A01
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
HMAS MERMAID
  • Name: Mermaid
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A02
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
HMAS SHEPPARTON
  • Name: Shepparton
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A03
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
HMAS BENALLA
  • Name: Benalla
  • Class: Paluma-Class
  • Builder: Eglo Engineering, SA
  • Pennant: A04
  • Laid Down: 1988
  • Launched: 1989
  • Home Port: HMAS Cairns
  • Identification: IMO 8717295
  • Type: Survey Ship, Costal (AGSC)
  • Hull: Catamaran Hull
  • Displacement: 325 tonnes
  • Length: 63.6 m
  • Beam: 34 m
  • Draught: 2.65 m
  • Speed:
  • Additional Features: The Catamaran Hull sits well out of the water only drawing 2.2 metres – favourable in shallowing and reef waters where the ships were required to operate
HMAS HAWKESBURY
  • Name: Hawkesbury
  • Class: Huon-Class Minehunter
  • Builder: Australian Defence Industries
  • Hull Number: M 83
  • Launched: 1998
  • Commissioned: 2000
  • Home Port: HMAS Waterhen
  • Max Displacement: 732 tonnes
  • Length: 52.5 m (172 ft)
  • Beam: 9.9 m (32 ft)
  • Draught: 3 m (9.8 ft)
  • Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h’ 16 mph) on diesel 6 knots (11 km/h’ 6.9 mph) on thrusters
HMAS NORMAN
  • Name: Norman
  • Class: Huon-Class Minehunter
  • Builder: Australian Defence Industries
  • Hull Number: M 84
  • Launched: 1999
  • Commissioned: 2000
  • Home Port: HMAS Waterhen
  • Max Displacement: 732 tonnes
  • Length: 52.5 m (172 ft)
  • Beam: 9.9 m (32 ft)
  • Draught: 3 m (9.8 ft)
  • Speed: 14 knots (26 km/h’ 16 mph) on diesel 6 knots (11 km/h’ 6.9 mph) on thrusters
SEAHORSE HORIZON
  • Name: Seahorse Horizon
  • Builder: Stirling Marine Services, WA
  • Use: Training & Support Operations
  • Christened: 1984 (as MV Blue Nabilla)
  • Acquired: 1998 Defence Maritime Services
  • Service: 1998-2018
  • Home Port: HMAS Creswell
  • Identification: IMO 8406200
  • Max Displacement: 670 tonnes
  • Length: 42.7 m (140 ft)
  • Beam: 9.5 m (31 ft)
  • Draught: 4 m (13 ft)
  • Speed: 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h’ 13.2 mph)
  • Compliment: 6 Civilian or 9 Navy (for training)
SURVEY MOTOR BOAT
  • Name: Fantome Class John Gowland SMB100
  • Builders: Pro Marine, Seaford, VIC
  • Built: 1984
  • Identification: IMO 8310580
  • Max Displacement: 7.48 tonnes
  • Length: 10.7 m (35 ft)
  • Beam: 2.9 m (9.5 ft)
  • Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h, 32 mph)
  • Compliment: 4

IN SERVICE GALLERY

View in service images of Ex-Military Paluma-Class & Huon-Class Minehunters direct from the Australian Defence Gallery.

HMAS Benalla Paluma-Class Vessels
HMAS Benalla in front of the Sydney Opera house
JOHN GOWLAND SMB1010
HMAS Shepparton HMAS Benalla, Paluma-Class Vessels
@ABC HMAS Shepparton HMAS Benalla, Paluma-Class Vessels
HMAS Norman Huon Class Minehunter
NEG REGISTER No. NIUW_8085575_021115_170_015 Photographer: Leading Seaman Photographer Darren Yates Date: 20001115 Where: Off Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling, Perth, Western Australia. Subject: HUON Class Minehunter, HMAS Norman (84) coming into berth at Fleet Base West.
HMAS_Shepparton Paluma-Class
HMAS_Shepparton Paluma-Class
HMAS Shepparton_Paluma-Class Vessel
Sailors from HMAS Shepparton hold the First Lady of the Fleet trophy at HMAS Cairns in Queensland.
JOHN GOWLAND SMB1010
HMAS Shepparton_Paluma-Class Vessels

HOW TO BUY

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