News / Row erupts over Australia's plan to create 'strategic' shipping fleet

Photo 78489463 | Australia Naval Flag © Simon Whitaker | Dreamstime.com

The Australian government has backed a series of proposals from a taskforce set up in 2022 to examine developing a national strategic shipping fleet reserve.

The Independent Taskforce on the Strategic Fleet published its report last week, which recommends creating a fleet of 12 vessels – domestically owned, registered and crewed – to “help Australia build resilience to freight disruptions, while supporting our maritime workforce and sovereign capability”.

The composition of the fleet’s vessel types has yet to be decided, although it ...