A federal plan to build a strategic fleet of Australian-flagged ships designed to strengthen the nation’s maritime resilience and provide vessels for crises, emergencies, or defence support has quietly slipped behind schedule.
The fleet would be operated by civilian commercial crews but could be requisitioned by the government or the Australian Defence Force in times of national need.
The government has committed $21.7 million over five years, delivered through a competitive tender to private operators, with payments helping cover the higher costs of Australian-flagged and crewed vessels.
Selected ships would continue commercial operations while remaining available for government requisition during national emergencies.
The government had promised to name the winning tender for the first three ships in early 2025, but no announcement has been made.
For experts who monitor Australia’s shipping and maritime security the delay comes at an uneasy moment, with the country now relying heavily on foreign-flagged ships and only a handful of Australian-crewed vessels.
The pilot forms part of the Strategic Fleet Taskforce’s recommendations, proposing up to 12 vessels that could be requisitioned in a crisis or emergency, while also providing training to help reverse a chronic shortage of Australian mariners.