HMAS ''Cairns'' is a
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the navy, naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (Australia), Chief of Navy (CN) Vice admiral (Australia), Vice Admiral Mark Hammond (admiral), Ma ...
(RAN)
base located adjacent to the
Trinity Inlet
The Trinity Inlet is an oceanic inlet which serves as the port for the city of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The city centre is on the western bank where the inlet meets the Coral Sea.
Location and features
The Trinity Inlet is located in the ...
on the shore of
Trinity Bay in
Cairns
Cairns (; ) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
The city was founded in 1876 and named after William Cairns, Sir W ...
,
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
, Australia. Although used regularly as a port-of-call since before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, a permanent RAN presence was not established until 1971, when a maintenance and support base for patrol boats was set up. The base was formally commissioned in 1971 as a minor war vessel base. The current commander of the base is
Commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank as well as a job title in many army, armies. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countri ...
David Hannah, RAN.
HMAS ''Cairns'' is responsible for all Australian naval activity off north-eastern Australia, and is the home base for one
Armidale class patrol boat
The ''Armidale'' class is a class of patrol boats built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Planning for a class of vessels to replace the fifteen s began in 1993 as a joint project with the Royal Malaysian Navy, but was cancelled when Malaysia ...
, two
Cape class patrol boats and the ships of the
Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service.
History
The RAN had been using Cairns as a regular stop since before
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, and during the war, Cairns was the principal port-of-call for many ships prior to heading to Pacific destinations.
There was no official RAN presence in Cairns until 1971, when facilities for the maintenance of the RAN's patrol boats were established.
[ In 1974, HMAS ''Cairns'' was commissioned as the parent establishment for patrol vessels and hydrographic ships based at Cairns.][
In 2016, the Australian Government announced plans to significantly redevelop ''Cairns'' as northern Australia's key strategic naval base. The plans announced projected that the number of personnel would increase from 900 to 3,000 by 2020, via an 120 million injection over ten years. The base, and adjacent industry facilities, have been upgraded and designated 'Regional Maintenance Center (RMC) North East' as the first for four dedicated naval support centres to be established in strategically important ports.
In May 2021 the Australian Government further announced an upgrade to the base and its facilities to support the incoming Arafura-Class patrol vessels currently under construction.]
Facilities and operational units
''Cairns'' is currently responsible for all Australian naval activity from Rockhampton
Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. In the , the population of Rockhampton was 79,293. A common nickname for Rockhampton is "Rocky", and the demonym of Rockhampton is Rockhamptonite.
The Scottish- ...
to Thursday Island
Thursday Island, colloquially known as TI, or in the Kalaw Lagaw Ya, Kawrareg dialect, Waiben or Waibene, is an island of the Torres Strait Islands, an archipelago of at least 274 small islands in the Torres Strait. TI is located approximately ...
and serves as a home base for four Cape class patrol boats. The base also berths the RAN's entire hydrographic fleet, consisting of two ''Leeuwin'' class survey vessels.[
]
Ships stationed
See also
*List of Royal Australian Navy bases
The following is a list of current and former commissioned bases used by the Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the navy, naval branch of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of ...
References
External links
Official website
{{RAN Bases
Buildings and structures in Cairns
Cairns
Cairns (; ) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
The city was founded in 1876 and named after William Cairns, Sir W ...
Military units and formations established in 1974
1974 establishments in Australia
Military buildings and structures in Queensland
Military installations in Queensland