Seahorse Mercator in 2007 |
|
| Career (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Gerardus Mercator |
| Operator: | DMS Maritime |
| 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 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[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]
Seahorse Mercator was built by Tenix Ship Building Western Australia for DMS at a cost of A$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]