Coast Watch

[adroth]

Navy chief as resource speaker in international maritime symposium
September 19, 2006

http://www.navy.mil.ph/Press_Release/2006/Sept/19Asept06.html

Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga served as a resource speaker during an international maritime symposium in the US this month.

Vice Admiral Mayuga presented the Coast Watch South Concept before representatives of the navy, coast guard, academe and maritime industry from the United States and 19 other countries during the International Maritime Security Symposium at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA from September 12-14, 2006.

The Coast Watch South Concept provides the Philippine Navy a framework for an inter-agency surveillance and response mechanism for addressing transnational crimes, maritime terrorism and environmental concerns in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. It also offers a framework for developing international cooperation by strengthening established bilateral and regional agreements

The three-day symposium organized by the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory aims to accelerate the development of a global maritime network by broadening trans-regional lines of communication between governments, navies, law enforcement agencies and the maritime industries in the face of increasing maritime security issues and concerns that threaten to disrupt the free flow of trade and commerce in the world’s oceans.

The presentation of Vice Admiral Mayuga was welcomed by the participants as it provides another perspective and a practical approach to maritime security cooperation. The presentation also coincides with the symposium’s call for increased cooperation at sea among navies as well as merchant shipping, fishing and other maritime industries.

With maritime cooperation and awareness as one of Vice Admiral Mayuga’s three-pronged governance, the Philippine Navy strengthens its collaboration with the AFP’s major service commands, the Coast Guard and other maritime authorities. The Philippine Navy is also cooperating with foreign navies in patrolling common borders and in keeping track of transnational maritime threats for a secure maritime environment.

 

[adroth]

RP-Australia workshop on coastal watch opens today
Tuesday, December 05 2006 @ 11:57 AM GMT

A two-day workshop to finalize the working concept of the Philippine model of the Coastal Watch South (CSW) system opened on Tuesday in Makati City for more than 50 experts from the Philippines and Australia.

The soon-to-be-operational CWS is a maritime surveillance system developed by the Philippine Navy to check on the movement of goods and people in the Mndanao southern backdoor, according to Cmdr. Giovanni Carlo J. Barcordo.

CWS aimed at addressing current and emerging maritime security threats, and is a framework for inter-agency surveillance and response mechanism for addressing transnational crimes, maritime terrorism, and environmental concerns in the Sulu and Celebes Seas, Barcordo said.

Its operation will help to developinternational cooperation by strengthening established bilateral and regional agreements, among them with Indonesia and Malaysia.

CWS consists of the Navy's network of coast watch stations around the country; national inter-agency maritime patrol operations; and existing bilateral arrangements.

Australia has similar arrangements with its Southeast Asian neighbors and wants to use the Philippine CWS model.

During an international maritime symposium held in the United States last November, the CWS Initiative was presented by Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga to participants who showed interest in adapting it to their own navy programs.

Mayuga noted that the Philippine Navy is also cooperating with counterparts in the Southeast Asian region in patrolling common borders and in keeping track of transnational maritime threats. (PNA)

ALM/gjb

-- This email has been scanned by the Balita server.

http://news.balita.ph/html/article.php/20061205115723203

 

[Ths]

Interesting to hear that going on there. A lot of things are happening in that field around the world at the moment.

 

[PETER671BT]

Navy chief as resource speaker in international maritime symposium
September 19, 2006

http://www.navy.mil.ph/Press_Release/2006/Sept/19Asept06.html

Philippine Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga served as a resource speaker during an international maritime symposium in the US this month.

Vice Admiral Mayuga presented the Coast Watch South Concept before representatives of the navy, coast guard, academe and maritime industry from the United States and 19 other countries during the International Maritime Security Symposium at the Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA from September 12-14, 2006.

The Coast Watch South Concept provides the Philippine Navy a framework for an inter-agency surveillance and response mechanism for addressing transnational crimes, maritime terrorism and environmental concerns in the Sulu and Celebes Seas. It also offers a framework for developing international cooperation by strengthening established bilateral and regional agreements

The three-day symposium organized by the university’s Applied Physics Laboratory aims to accelerate the development of a global maritime network by broadening trans-regional lines of communication between governments, navies, law enforcement agencies and the maritime industries in the face of increasing maritime security issues and concerns that threaten to disrupt the free flow of trade and commerce in the world’s oceans.

The presentation of Vice Admiral Mayuga was welcomed by the participants as it provides another perspective and a practical approach to maritime security cooperation. The presentation also coincides with the symposium’s call for increased cooperation at sea among navies as well as merchant shipping, fishing and other maritime industries.

With maritime cooperation and awareness as one of Vice Admiral Mayuga’s three-pronged governance, the Philippine Navy strengthens its collaboration with the AFP’s major service commands, the Coast Guard and other maritime authorities. The Philippine Navy is also cooperating with foreign navies in patrolling common borders and in keeping track of transnational maritime threats for a secure maritime environment.

Could a national guard for australia work,which could incorporate naval,army,airforce,police,fire and rescue units,ambul's,reserves.And head office operate out of Canberra.Just a thought.

 

[Ths]

Not being an Australian, I would think it a very good idea. The only task I would hesitate to put in a Home Guard organisation would be police work, as police work in its methods, authority and character is fundamentally different from rescue and defence work. There might be trained units within a Home Guard organisation providing the flat feet for crowd control and such; but for Australia I don't think its a good idea, as much of the information in investigation comes from flat feet.

As I understand it: Australia is some major cities with an awfull lot of nothing in between.
In rural areas the main disaster relief and defence problem is transport - and is AFAIK carried out by flying doctors and airmobile units. So in the countryside the military problem is one of surveillance and liason with mobile units (where local knowledge is important).
In cities the problem is the limited resources of the regulars, so there might be a need there; but in defence terms we are back to the question of how an enemy will survive in sufficient numbers getting to areas where they are of concern.
Say a landing in the Northern Territory might pass unnoticed - even with large numbers of troops; but moving out from the bridgehead will create one gigantic supply problem: Heat, lack of water, creepy crawlies will make any expedition a no starter. You can walk across the northern part of Greenland because you CAN tow 80 odd kiloes of supplies on a sledge; but I don't think it is possible across Northern Australia - even if you count on eating the wildlife before it eats you - as 80 liters of water in a pram doesn't go far.

Thus the requirements of rural and urban conditions are so different, that it will be more rational to organise according to tasks. An example is the Coast Watchers during WW2 - one of the most outstanding examples in war history of a handfull of "civilians" making a momenteous difference in the war.
As to the cities, they are probably best served locally (i.e. a state problem) according to local needs.

 

[PETER671BT]

Not being an Australian, I would think it a very good idea. The only task I would hesitate to put in a Home Guard organisation would be police work, as police work in its methods, authority and character is fundamentally different from rescue and defence work. There might be trained units within a Home Guard organisation providing the flat feet for crowd control and such; but for Australia I don't think its a good idea, as much of the information in investigation comes from flat feet.

As I understand it: Australia is some major cities with an awfull lot of nothing in between.
In rural areas the main disaster relief and defence problem is transport - and is AFAIK carried out by flying doctors and airmobile units. So in the countryside the military problem is one of surveillance and liason with mobile units (where local knowledge is important).
In cities the problem is the limited resources of the regulars, so there might be a need there; but in defence terms we are back to the question of how an enemy will survive in sufficient numbers getting to areas where they are of concern.
Say a landing in the Northern Territory might pass unnoticed - even with large numbers of troops; but moving out from the bridgehead will create one gigantic supply problem: Heat, lack of water, creepy crawlies will make any expedition a no starter. You can walk across the northern part of Greenland because you CAN tow 80 odd kiloes of supplies on a sledge; but I don't think it is possible across Northern Australia - even if you count on eating the wildlife before it eats you - as 80 liters of water in a pram doesn't go far.

Thus the requirements of rural and urban conditions are so different, that it will be more rational to organise according to tasks. An example is the Coast Watchers during WW2 - one of the most outstanding examples in war history of a handfull of "civilians" making a momenteous difference in the war.
As to the cities, they are probably best served locally (i.e. a state problem) according to local needs.

I can understand that but your knowledge is not to bad,The real problem is the states say it's fedral matter,fedral say it's state,But bottm line we just don't have man power,boats to fill a 365 year of patroling.But in summer they seem to all work together fighting fires,reserves,forces,fire and resuce units.It's weird,AS for the top end of australia,It's patrolled and reconed by aleast 4 naval and airforce bases.Which are mostly active all year round.

 

[swerve]

...Say a landing in the Northern Territory might pass unnoticed - even with large numbers of troops; but moving out from the bridgehead will create one gigantic supply problem: Heat, lack of water, creepy crawlies will make any expedition a no starter. You can walk across the northern part of Greenland because you CAN tow 80 odd kiloes of supplies on a sledge; but I don't think it is possible across Northern Australia - even if you count on eating the wildlife before it eats you - as 80 liters of water in a pram doesn't go far.
....

Depends on the time of year of this hypothetical landing in the Top End. In July, the weather's lovely - as long as you can find water But in January, it's wet - Darwin averages over 400 mm - & sometimes torrential, e.g. 290.4 mm one day in 1997. Big problem then is that the wet makes movement hard - tracks washed out, floods, etc.

 

[Ths]

Season in the Northern Australia.
Well It would still be a problem pushing a pram with 80 kilos of dry knickers and fireworks.

 

[Tasman]

Australian Coastwatch

With the earlier discussion about Coast Watch I thought I might provide an update about Australia's Coastwatch Service.

Coastwatch is the civil element of the Joint Off Shore Protection Command (JOPC) which also includes a military element in the form of the Australian Defence Force's Northern Command (NORCOM) and a joint headquarters JOPC (HQJOPC).

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5639

Customs is tasked by the Government to deliver effective civil maritime surveillance and to coordinate maritime response services for a range of Government agencies. Coastwatch, a Division of Customs, provides this service.

Coastwatch undertakes its civil maritime surveillance and response role using a combination of contracted aircraft, Australian Defence Force patrol boats and aircraft, and sea-going vessels of Customs National Marine Unit.

The Australian Coast Watch service has been joined by a new customs vessel
Triton, a 98m trimaran, chartered from the UK for 12 months. She is a 20 knot vessel with a crew of 14 and the ability to carry 28 customs officers and hold 30 detainees. She also carries two RHIB and is armed with 2 x 12.7mm HMGs.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=8217
http://www.gardline.com/gardline_australia.asp

Triton joins the 105-metre Oceanic Viking ,which is fitted with two deck mounted 12.7mm HMGs, and eight 38m Bay class ACVs which are armed with 2 x 7.62mm MGs.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4242

Oceanic Viking patrols the Southern Ocean. In September 2005, the Cambodian flagged Taruman was boarded 1200 kilometres South of Tasmania. The 2145 tonne vessel was suspected of fishing illegally inside Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone. She is still tied up in Hobart waiting for a decision about its disposal.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5506

The Coastwatch aircraft fleet comprises:

5 x De Havilland Dash 8 - 200 series
3 x Reims F406
6 x Pilatus Britten Norman Islanders
1 x Shrike AC 500 Aero Commander
1 x Bell 412EP helicopter
1 x Bell 206 Longranger IV

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4299

Backing the customs assets are AP-3C Orions of the RAAF and the vessels of the RAN. As well as Armidale and Fremantle class patrol boats, and 2 Huon class MCMVs, frigates and other vessels are assigned as needed.

I would be interested to find out how other countries organise their maritime border protection.

Cheers

 

[Todjaeger]

Surveillance Australia update

The Coastwatch aircraft fleet comprises:

5 x De Havilland Dash 8 - 200 series
3 x Reims F406
6 x Pilatus Britten Norman Islanders
1 x Shrike AC 500 Aero Commander
1 x Bell 412EP helicopter
1 x Bell 206 Longranger IV

The fixed-wing aircraft used by Coastwatch are operated by Surveillance Australia under contract. With the contract having been renewed a year ago for service through 2020, plans are underway to update the fixed-wing fleet.

http://www.surveillanceaustralia.com.au/default2.asp

Basically, the 5 (Bombardier) Dash 8-200s will be updated, with an additional copy added and 4 Dash 8-300s added. The other, smaller fixed-wing assets will gradually be retired/replaced.

I do wonder (am curious) if and/or how well the Coastwatch aircraft are tied into the RAN/RAAF CEC efforts. One cannot have too many spotters looking for potential threats.

Interestingly, according to the NZ LTDP, there is consideration for some additional MPA assets, also based on the Dash 8s.

-Cheers