ADV Ocean Protector

Design and construction

The ship has a full-load displacement of 8,500 tonnes, a tonnage value of 6,596 gross tons, is 105.9 metres (347 ft) in overall length, with a beam of 21.02 metres (69.0 ft), and a draught of 6.6 metres (22 ft). The propulsion machinery is diesel-electric. Four Wärtsilä 63L2 diesels, providing a total of 14,804 horsepower (11,039 kW), generate electricity, which is directed to two 6,438 horsepower (4,801 kW) motors driving directional propellers. Top speed is 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), with a range of 9,200 nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,600 mi). Sustainable range is 23,000 nautical miles (43,000 km; 26,000 mi) at Template:Covnert. A platform suitable for landing a medium helicopter is sited forward, above the bridge. For offshore support duties, 1,100 square metres (12,000 sq ft) of deck area is available, and a 140 tonne crane is fitted.

In Australian Customs service, the ship's normal complement was made up of 22 ship's crew contracted from Teekay, plus up to 50 Customs and associated personnel, along with austere accommodation for a further 120 in a retrofitted deckhouse module. Two .50 caliber machine guns were fitted, along with two 8.5-metre (28 ft) rigid hull Customs Rescue Tenders.

Operational history

The ship was laid down at the Aker Yards ASA in Tulcea, Romania on 25 August 2006 as a ROV support vessel for Norwegian shipping company DOF Subsea. Based on the Aker ROV 06 DE design, it was named Geo Bergen during construction and launched on 28 January 2007. The ship was renamed to Skandi Bergen on 19 July 2007 prior to its completion on 3 August 2007.

In mid-2010, the Australian government chartered the ship for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, as a replacement for MV Oceanic Viking. The ship was chartered to Customs through DMAA Seaforce. Modifications for Customs service were made by Forgacs Engineering in Newcastle, New South Wales, including the installation of the austere accommodation and medical deckhouse (the latter staffed by a doctor drawn from the Australian Antarctic Division), fitting of weapons and davits for the two Customs tenders, modification and expansion of crew recreation facilities, and sealing of the ship's moon pools. On completion, the ship was renamed and redesignated "Australian Customs Vessel (ACV) Ocean Protector". Ocean Protector entered Customs Service in October 2010.

During November 2010, the vessel intercepted suspected drug smugglers off Queensland, and intercepted two asylum seeker boats off Christmas Island in November 2010.

In January 2012, Ocean Protector retrieved three Australian anti-whaling activists who had boarded MV Shōnan Maru 2.

Ocean Protector was originally chartered by Customs until 2016. At this time, the ship would be returned to the owners, and replaced by ADV Ocean Shield, a sister ship purchased by the Department of Defence to close a sealift capability gap while the Canberra-class amphibious warfare ships were completed. The changeover was brought forward to 2014, with Ocean Shield acquired on 1 July, and funding for Ocean Protector's charter terminated on 31 December.

After being returned to DOF Subsea, the ship was refurbished and upgraded (with two Remotely operated underwater vehicles installed), renamed Skandi Protector and assigned to subsea projects in the Asia Pacific Region. In March, DOF Subsea secured a three-year master services contract to work on Chevron Corporation projects on the North West Shelf. Skandi Protector was assigned to the contract, and operated out of Perth, Western Australia.

In November 2015, DOF announced the sale of the vessel to the Australian government for NOK 300 million, with the ship to be handed over in early 2016. Upon completion of the sale, the ship was renamed the Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Ocean Protector.