HMAS Albany intercepts vessel

4 December 2009

Late in the evening of the 3rd of December, HMAS Albany, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, boarded a vessel 150 nautical miles north west of Darwin. The people on board the vessel are safe and have indicated that they wish to come to Australia.

The vessel was earlier identified by a Customs and Border Protection Dash 8 aircraft, under the control of Border Protection Command.

Initial indications suggest there are 15 passengers and 3 crew on board the vessel.

Australia is proactively working with our neighbours, through bilateral cooperation and the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, to address this most serious issue.

People smuggling is a global and regional problem. According to the UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report, there were 42 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2008, including 15.2 million refugees.

The Australian Government has committed more than $654 million to implementing a comprehensive people smuggling strategy to combat this issue. The Government has expanded its presence in the region with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service recently setting up or expanding liaison posts devoted to deterring irregular migration.

Agencies are working closely with their counterparts in country exchanging and gathering information, and strengthening our regional capacity to mitigate irregular migration to Australia. Our strengthened offshore approach is working. Since September 2008 there have been 89 disruptions of people smuggling ventures in Indonesia, and the arrest of 28 people smuggling organisers.

The group will be transferred to Christmas Island where they will undergo security, identity and health checks as well as establish their reasons for travel.

Video

Images

Attack One on board HMAS Albany on patrol Ashmore Island.	Attack One on board HMAS Albany rigid hull boat.	HMAS Albany's rigid hull inflatable boat stands by in case of emergency during transfer of passengers from suspected illegal entry Vessel 62.
Suspected illegal entry Vessel (SIEV) 62 boarded by Attack One on board HMAS Albany.	Suspected illegal entry Vessel (SIEV) 62 boarded by Attack One on board HMAS Albany.	Suspected illegal entry Vessel (SIEV) 62 boarded by Attack One on board HMAS Albany.
Suspected illegal entry Vessel (SIEV) 62 boarded by Attack One on board HMAS Albany.	Suspected illegal entry Vessel (SIEV) 62 boarded by Attack One on board HMAS Albany.