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.
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.
- 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
IN SERVICE GALLERY
View in service images of Ex-Military Paluma-Class & Huon-Class Minehunters direct from the Australian Defence Gallery.
HOW TO BUY
All our genuine Australian Ex-Military items are sold via online auction. Auctions are held roughly once a month at various locations around Australia.
Lean how to buy so you don’t miss out!
UPCOMING AUCTIONS
EX-mILITARY BUNKER
Resources for Australian Ex-Military Service Manuals & Providers, Blogs & Frequently Asked Questions
