Canberra – AST Oceanics Signs Contract to Provide In Service Support to ABF Cutter THAIYAK

On 25 March 2014, AST Oceanics entered into a performance based contract with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to provide the In Service Support (ISS) to the new build Australian Border Force owned vessel ABFC THAIYAK, due for delivery to Australian Border Force from Oceanics late June 2014.

On 25 March 2014, AST Oceanics entered into a performance based contract with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to provide the In Service Support (ISS) to the new build to the ABFC THAIYAK, due for delivery to Australian Border Force from Oceanics late June 2014. The ISS contract has an initial term of 5 years with 2 yearly performance based extensions out to a maximum duration of 15 years; the anticipated service life of the ABFC THAIYAK.

At 500 tonnes GRT, 40 metres in length and with a beam of 11.5 metres, ABFC THAIYAK is a large volume vessel that has been purpose built as an On Station Vessel (OSV) designed for long duration deployments in tropical waters, specifically the pristine environment of the Ashmore Reef marine conservation park, an Australian territory situated about 500nm North West of Darwin, NT. ABFC THAIYAK replaces the Oceanics vessel, ASHMORE GUARDIAN, which has been performing the OSV task since 2007 until recently.

The contract will involve providing full ILS support to the vessel on a 365 day 24/7 basis when the vessel is both on task in Ashmore Reef and on the occasions it returns to its home port of Darwin.