Seahorse Mercator

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Seahorse Mercator in 2007
Seahorse Mercator in 2007
Career (Australia (DMS))
Namesake: Gerardus Mercator
Ordered: Early 1998
Builder: Tenix Ship Building Western Australia
Launched: 15 October 1998[1]
Acquired: 26 November 1998[2]
Status: Active, based at HMAS Waterhen[1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Pacific class patrol boat variant
Displacement: 165 tons
Length: 31.5 feet (9.6 m)
Beam: 8.21 metres (26.9 ft)
Draught: 2.6 metres (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[1]
Notes: Taken from:[3]

Seahose 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 at Sydney. Seahorse Mercator is fitted with an extensive suite of navigation systems and has a secondary role as a mine countermeasures craft.[3] The Canadian Forces Maritime Command's Orca class patrol vessels were built to a significantly modified variant of Seahorse Mercator's design.[4]

History

Seahorse Mercator was built by Tenix Ship Building Western Australia for DMS at a cost of AU$4 million, and was launched on 15 October 1998.[1] She conducted sea trials during November 1998[1] and replaced the Attack class patrol boat HMAS Ardent as the RAN's Sydney-based navigational training vessel in December that year.[5] Since then she has mainly operated in the Sydney area[3] and has trained RAN personnel and sailors from other navies in coastal navigation, ship handling and watch keeping procedures.[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Seahorse Mercator". Australian Warship Review (Sydney: Topmill) 2: 67. 1999. ISBN 187627090X. 
  2. Hines, Catherine (1999). "On Course for Delivering Vessels". Tenacity (Tenix (corporate publication)): pp. 4. http://www.tenixtoll.com/PDFLibrary/164.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-04. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Wertheim, Eric (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World. Naval Institute Press. p. 33. ISBN 159114955X. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=TJunjRvplU4C. 
  4. "Fast tests keep new Canadian navy training ships on schedule". Diesel Progress North American Edition (April 2007). http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-30644427_ITM. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Chartmaker Honoured". Navy News. 1998-11-16. http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/1998/11_16_98/story6.htm. Retrieved 10 June 2010.