ISSUE 182 : Jul/Aug - 2010 - Australian Defence Force Journal

A report by the International Hydrographic Organisation 12 indicates that 75 per cent ofNew Caledonia’s waters deeper than 200 metres have never been systematically surveyed.Similarly, 72 per cent of PNG’s waters shallower than 200 metres and 90 per cent of its watersdeeper than 200 metres have never been systematically surveyed. Many other nations inour region were unable to provide reliable or accurate data and a number of nations wereunable or unwilling to provide statistics. This is more an indicator of the lack of hydrographiccapability than one of security or other concerns. But it nonetheless presents us with somesignificant challenges and casts concern over the RAN’s ability to operate effectively throughoutour region.This shortfall is especially significant when considered in conjunction with Defence’s strategiccommitment to the development of an expanded amphibious capability, with the ability toproject power and undertake substantial regional assistance missions. Australia’s imminentacquisition of amphibious landing ships and air warfare destroyers, and later acquisition of12 submarines, further highlights this concern. As Australia develops the largest amphibiouscapability in our Navy’s history, and expects to operate in a region of limited hydrographicinformation, it is a timely reminder of our evolving role to support hydrographic capacitybuilding in the region.Marine science in AustraliaDefence does not need to achieve the Defence White Paper’s vision of information superiorityand spatial awareness in the undersea domain in isolation. The field of marine science isexpanding rapidly, particularly in Australia. The 2009 Federal budget announced the allocationof $387m to a ‘Marine and Climate Super-Science’ initiative. 13 The money will be used to acquirea state-of-the-art marine research vessel to replace RV Southern Surveyor; fund extensions tothe ‘Integrated Marine Observing System’ and new tropical marine infrastructure investmentsat the Australian Institute of Marine Science; and upgrade Australia’s climate change computingcapacity. These ocean-observing, -forecasting and -data management systems are vital forresearch but are also extremely useful for an ADF seeking to achieve information superiorityfor ASW.Recent reports, such as ASPI’s ‘Sea Change’ and OPSAG’s ‘A Marine Nation’, recommend amore coordinated approach to oceans policy and marine science. Navy’s Hydrographic andMETOC Branch, and DSTO—as members of OPSAG—fully support this drive, which willensure that the best use is made of marine science assets to achieve a truly national capability.One example of such cooperation is the BLUElink project 14 , a partnership between Defence,CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology. It has put in place an ocean analysis and forecastingsystem, at an overall investment of around $30m over the last six years. Each partner hascontributed around $10m, which has enabled the project to achieve much more than any oneagency could have done on its own.8