With the failure of the Defence establishment to maintain non-complex ships as shown in recent debacles, there comes a bright spot or two.
The first was buying the Bay-class ship from the U.K. The second good idea is that Defence is looking at acquiring a home-built logistics catamaran used by the U.S. military. This same kind of ship was rented locally for past Australian Defence operations.
Three of the vessels have served with the US Navy and the US Army. The RAN was slow to recognise their value until the Timor crisis in 1999 when an 86-metre jet cat ferry, previously running between Melbourne and Hobart, was leased by the navy. Renamed HMAS Jervis Bay, the ship earned the nickname Dili Express as she transported personnel and materiel over the Timor Sea continuously for the two years of the emergency.
If this order happens, I compliment Defence on some smart thinking.
