Seahorse Mercator
 Seahorse Mercator in 2007 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Australia
| |
| Namesake: | Gerardus Mercator |
| Operator: | DMS Maritime |
| Ordered: | Early 1998 |
| Builder: | Tenix |
| Launched: | 15 October 1998 |
| Acquired: | 26 November 1998 |
| Status: | Active, based at HMAS Waterhen |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Pacific class patrol boat variant |
| Displacement: | 165 tons |
| Length: | 31.5 m (103 ft) |
| Beam: | 8.21 m (26.9 ft) |
| Draught: | 2.6 m (8.5 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Caterpillar 3304 diesels, 2 propellers |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Range: | 2,880 nautical miles (5,330 km; 3,310 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) |
| Complement: | 5 crew + 3 instructors and 18 trainees |
| Sensors and processing systems: | 1 x Furuno FE 606 navigation radar, 1 x Decca Bridgemaster ARPA navigation radar |
| Armament: | None |
Seahorse Mercator is a navigational training vessel operated by Defence Maritime Services under contract to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). She is a modified version of the Pacific class patrol boat design and is based at HMAS Waterhen in Sydney.
Design and construction
Seahorse Mercator is a variant of the Pacific class patrol boat design.[1] The ship has a displacement of 165 tons, a length of 31.5 metres (103 ft), a beam of 8.21 metres (26.9 ft), and a draught of 2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in).[1] Propulsion is supplied by two Caterpillar 3304 diesels, driving two propellers.[1] Maximum speed is 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), with a range of 2,880 nautical miles (5,330 km; 3,310 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[1] Seahorse Mercator is run by a crew of five plus three instructors, and can carry up to eighteen trainees.[1] Radars include a Furuno FE 606 navigation radar, and a Decca Bridgemaster ARPA navigation radar.[1] The vessel is unarmed.[2]
Seahorse Mercator was built by Tenix Ship Building Western Australia for DMS at a cost of A$4 million.[2] The vessel was launched on 15 October 1998.[2] The Canadian Forces Maritime Command's Orca class patrol vessels were built to a modified variant of Seahorse Mercator's design.[3]
Operational history
Seahorse Mercator conducted sea trials during November 1998, with handover to DMS and the RAN on 26 November 1998[4] She was assigned to the naval base HMAS Waterhen, and replaced the Attack class patrol boat HMAS Ardent as the RAN's Sydney-based navigational training vessel in December that year.[2][5] Since then she has mainly operated in the Sydney area[1] and has trained RAN personnel and sailors from other navies in coastal navigation, ship handling and watch keeping procedures.[5]
Seahorse Mercator has a secondary role as a mine countermeasures craft.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World. Naval Institute Press. p. 33. ISBN 1-59114-955-X.
- 1 2 3 4 "Seahorse Mercator". Australian Warship Review (Sydney: Topmill) 2: 67. 1999. ISBN 1-876270-90-X.
- ↑ "Fast tests keep new Canadian navy training ships on schedule". Diesel Progress North American Edition (April 2007).
- ↑ Hines, Catherine (1999). "On Course for Delivering Vessels" (PDF). Tenacity (Tenix (corporate publication)). p. 4. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
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