Australian Customs Service (ACS)
Boarder Protection Command

THIS RADIO NETWORK IS NO LONGER REGISTERED OR USED

Coastwatch role and objectives

The BPC has stated that the role of Coastwatch is to provide a "civil littoral and offshore surveillance and response service". Providing the following services:

•  patrolling;
•  detection;
• identification;
• surveillance;
•  interception; and
•  deterrence.
  
  Coastwatch has established four primary objectives that underlie the delivery of its services. These objectives are to:

 

•  deliver an effective national coastal and offshore civil surveillance service;
•  provide effective marine and aerial responses to known or suspected breaches of the Australian border and offshore sovereignty and/or sovereign rights;
•  provide a quality service for client agencies; and
•  have staff who are committed to high standards of professionalism, probity and performance and who are supported by a safe, equitable work environment.

Coastwatch uses a mixture of aircraft and marine vessels. The aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary are supplied by outsourced contractors, Defence and charter flights. The marine vessels are supplied by either the RAN, private charter or the NMU.

Primary long range communications are conducted utilizing the following HF network, and are supplemented by Inmarsat and Iridium satellite systems (also military UHF Satcom).

The ACS HF Network is Australia's second largest HF system, second only to the military MHFCS network.
It's remote transmission sites are located at:
Port Headland WA, Brome WA, Tullamarine VIC, Lord Howe Island NSW, Dampier WA, Carnarvon WA, Brisbane QLD, Alice Springs NT, and Townsville QLD.

 

Customs Vessels

The current fleet of Bay class ships are due to be replaced by end of 2015 with the Cape class.

 

Information correct as of 20 January, 2016