Defence News

Stroppy Chippie · **Posted:** Wed Oct 22, 2025 11:30 pm

" they've been gifted an intact (but beyond economical repair) Guardian to practice on."

With enough bodies going through on courses, could get that one back in service (no profit margin).

Seejay · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2025 4:36 pm

Hippy Chippy wrote:

:-k Cairns, eh..? So maybe they can give them some practical local hazard avoidance training on the Great Barrier Reef :captain:

d'ya reckon..?! :finga:

They actually do train around this area, but have the project teams on board to assist. That minimises the damage potential of course, but when the Guardians leave Cairns to return to their home ports only the ship's crew is aboard. This means that they navigate around/through the GBR by themselveslves and thence to their own ports, so they have a substantial knowledge of navigation.

My theory is that they are confused by the level of dependence on electronic aids and the computer systems on board. Whereas previously everything was manual control with limited remote operation, now they have to contend with computers with a dozen active screens to operate engines/equipment/valves/etc, and they just don't cope with it very well. :dontknow:

But, what do I know?

The most recent boat to run aground (Takuare) is now off the reef (after another vessel tried to just drag it off and caused more problems), and is now sitting by the seaside on a sandy bottom.

Same as the other one that grounded months & months :captain:

ago...

Stroppy Chippie · **Posted:** Mon Oct 27, 2025 11:00 pm

"Takuare" - that would be the one returned in March after an earlier repair job?

You would think that there would be a huge sign on the wall in the ship procurement area stating that there is a simple reason why the Pacific Class patrol boat was designed and built....

Seejay · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2025 2:13 pm

Yep, that's the one!

connief · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2025 4:23 pm

Here you go

Vanuatu patrol boat RVS Takuare transported to Australia for repairs after hitting reef

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-30/ ... /105947254

I like this bit about who pays for the repairs

"It is unclear who will pay for the repairs and recovery operation; however, the Australian government does have budget provisions for "support" of the vessels' operations across the Pacific."

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Thu Oct 30, 2025 7:26 pm

The latest fortnightly edition of :salute1:

NAVY News :captain:

is now available below :down:

for your reading pleasure... :news:

Click on the image of 'The Steel Cat' :cat1:

above,

or the cover of the current edition below, :down:

to access...

:evil3:

Items of interest in this edition include:

................................... • STRONG TIES: Ballarat builds on lasting connection in Cambodia – Page 2

................................... • TAKE A BOW: Navy scoops the pool at Women in Defence Awards – Page 5

................................... • CONNECTION TO THE SEA: Building and paddling a shared canoe – Pages 8-9

.......................NAVY NEWS is the official publication of The Royal Australian Navy.

...................To read the latest editions of Army News and Air Force News click :type:

HERE.

Click here to view Defence Privacy Policy: :type:

https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications ... rivacy.asp

Department of Defence ABN: 68706814312 - R1-GF-C049 PO Box 7901 Canberra BC ACT 2610 AUSTRALIA Ph: (07) 3903 8512

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:16 pm

The latest fortnightly edition of :salute1:

NAVY News :captain:

is now available in the post below :down:

for your reading pleasure... :news:

Hippy Chippy · **Posted:** Thu Nov 13, 2025 10:17 pm

The latest fortnightly edition of :salute1:

NAVY News :captain:

is now available below :down:

for your reading pleasure... :news:

Click on the image of 'The Steel Cat' :cat1:

above,

or the cover of the current edition below, :down:

to access...

:evil3:

Items of interest in this edition include:

..................................... • REMEMBRANCE DAY: Keeping a promise to honour our fallen – Pages 2-3

..................................... • INDOPAC MAKES AN IMPACT: Global minds and culture connect – Pages 4-7

..................................... • THIRSTY WORK: Two navies, three replenishments, seven hours – Pages 10-11

.......................NAVY NEWS is the official publication of The Royal Australian Navy.

...................To read the latest editions of Army News and Air Force News click :type:

HERE.

Click here to view Defence Privacy Policy: :type:

https://www.defence.gov.au/Publications ... rivacy.asp

Department of Defence ABN: 68706814312 - R1-GF-C049 PO Box 7901 Canberra BC ACT 2610 AUSTRALIA Ph: (07) 3903 8512

Seejay · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2025 10:53 am

If anyone hasn't seen the SMH's big story yesterday (and repeated in The Age) about NORSTA's previous CEO suing them and lifting the lid on 'questionable work practices' and unfair dismissal, perhaps you should. Seems lots of investigations may be in the wind regarding their work on patrol boats, etc, and that would naturally extend to the public servants involved. Lots of very uncomfortable people in this area at the moment.

To explain, NORSTA is a defence contract conglomerate spread across all three services and are looking to jump in to areas where AUSTAL is vacating. Interesting times.....

BC · **Posted:** Wed Nov 26, 2025 12:06 pm

n AI overview:

Recent issues with Norsta include a lawsuit filed by its former CEO, Dan Smith, who alleges the company misled the Australian military on projects and exposed it to cybersecurity risks. Smith claims he raised concerns about unqualified project managers and unapproved IT systems, but was pressured to resign when his warnings were ignored.

Cybersecurity risks: The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Smith alleged Norsta was using IT systems for defense contracts that had not been cyber-approved by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), potentially exposing the company and the ADF to cyberattack.

Unqualified staff: The lawsuit claims that Norsta employed "senior project managers to deliver the Defence contracts" who were not qualified to do so.

Pressure to resign: According to Brisbane Times, Smith alleged that after he raised these serious concerns, he was pressured to resign.

Contract management: Smith's claims suggest that Norsta, a contractor for the Australian Navy and Border Force, may have misled the military about project progress and risks.

The primary "Norsta issues" relate to allegations of misconduct and cybersecurity risks raised by the former CEO of Norsta, an Australian defence contractor.

Former CEO Allegations

In late November 2025, Dan Smith, the former CEO of Norsta, initiated a lawsuit against the company and its chairman, Maurie McNarn. The core issues alleged by Smith include:

Misleading on Projects: Claims that the company was misleading on project status and performance.

Cybersecurity Risks: Allegations of unaddressed cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the company's systems.

Forced Out: Smith claims he was forced out of the business after refusing to remain silent about his concerns.

Context: Norsta's Role in Defence

Norsta Maritime is a significant Australian-owned defence contractor that provides maintenance services for Royal Australian Navy vessels in Northern Australia. They hold key contracts for Regional Maintenance Centres (RMCs) in Cairns and Darwin as part of the Defence's Plan Galileo. The company is a joint venture involving Norship, Tropical Reef Shipyards, and other partners, focused on building sovereign defence capability.

These allegations have brought attention to the company's internal governance and its critical role in national security and the sustainment of the Navy fleet.

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