Pacific Maritime Security Program training contract
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- Category: News
- Published: Wednesday, 31 March 2021 05:40
- Written by Bill Jaynes
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Maritime Surveillance Advisors
March 12, 2021
The Australian government has awarded TAFE Queensland a A$36 million contract to provide mariner training and support to the Navy and Police crews of the Guardian-class Patrol Boats. The funding is being delivered as part of the government’s A$2 billion Pacific Maritime Security Program to strengthen maritime capability in the Pacific. The training will be delivered in a hub and spoke approach by Cairns TAFE taking the training out into the Pacific to grow the capability of Pacific island nations.
Acting Minister for Defence Marise Payne said the Pacific Maritime Security Program training contract was designed to adapt and adjust, to meet the needs of our Pacific partners. “A modern and innovative training approach offered by TAFE Queensland will have significant strategic benefits in the Pacific,” Payne said. “TAFE Queensland has already established important relationships and arrangements with the Commonwealth and Pacific Island country governments, industries and communities. This, coupled with their established infrastructure in Australia and experience in delivering services in the Pacific, will enable TAFE Queensland to help achieve the outcomes of the Pacific Step-Up Program and the Pacific Maritime Security Program. This contract builds upon the success of the previous Pacific Patrol Boat training services contract, by providing new contemporary training for the Guardian-class Patrol Boat crew.”
TAFE Queensland aims to commence training in August 2021 with 80 students to receive training this year, from next year Cairns TAFE aims to have 320 students per year for the next four years.
Under the Pacific Maritime Security Program, Australia is replacing the existing Pacific Patrol Boats with 21 new Guardian-class Patrol Boats to 12 Pacific Island nations and Timor-Leste to enhance regional maritime capability and capacity. FSM is scheduled to receive the first of its new Guardian Class patrol boats in early 2022.
