LAUNCH OF MARITIME RESEARCH VESSEL ‘GINAN’

Defence is partnering with Australian companies to strengthen maritime research skills by delivering a new regional Australia-built defence science research vessel.

The boat was constructed by a local Australian boat builder, Steber International, based at Taree.

Dr Gillespie joined Managing Director Alan Steber to inspect the new R/V Ginan, a 12m vessel, which is part of a $1.8 million project to support Defence’s maritime research.

It will be used for science and technology trials in coastal waters, predominantly in the Sydney Harbour and Jervis Bay regions of New South Wales.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the project was evidence of the Morrison Government’s commitment to building high quality and versatile Australian research platforms within Defence.

” We have a long history of working with Steber International and have been supported by Cummins South Pacific, Olectric Systems and a number of small service providers in the Mid-North coast area,” Minister Price said.

“While the vessel will initially focus on the development and testing of maritime robotic and autonomous systems, its versatility means it will also be used to support a range of programs, including hydrographic survey and ocean sciences.”

Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said the R/V Ginan will enable us to strengthen Defence capability and was a welcome addition to the fleet.

“The vessel was named after the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander word Ginan, representing a dilly bag filled with special songs of knowledge.”

“For the Wardaman people of Northern Australia, it also refers to the fifth brightest star in the Southern Cross,” Dr Gillespie said.

“This project is clear evidence of our Government’s commitment to using Aussie know-how in the regions to grow our Defence capability.”

The vessel will replace the much-loved timber Army Work Boat, which has served Defence Science for more than 30 years.